PUBLISHED  BY 

American  PoOLTRYAssocwanoH 


®l|e  ^-  ^.  ^ai  ICtearg 


^orill  (Earolma  ^tatc  (iloUcge 


S00765548    Z 


iJaic  Lftt^ 


OCT 


31  1962 


SF489 

.W9N6 


Nourse,   H.  A, 


Wyandotte  standrad  and  bree 
book. : 13lZ^ 


THE 

WYANDOTTE  STANDARD 

AND  BREED  BOOK 


A    COMPLETE    DESCRIPTION    OF 

ALL    VARIETIES    OF    WYANDOTTES,    WITH     THE    TEXT 

IN  FULL  FROM  THE  LATEST  (1915)  REVISED  EDITION 

OF  THE  AMERICAN  STANDARD  OF  PERFECTION 

AS   IT   RELATES  TO   ALL  VARIETIES   OF 

WYANDOTTES. 


ALSO,  WITH   TREATISES   ON   BREEDING,  REAR- 
ING,   FEEDING,    HOUSING,    CONDITIONING 
FOR  EXHIBITIONS,  EXHIBITING— ETC. 


BY  ACCREDITED  AUTHORS 
SEE  LIST  OF  AUTHORS,  PAGE  NINE. 

EDITED  BY  h!' A.  NOURSE. 


ILLUSTRATIONS 
BY  ARTHUR  O.  SCHILLING. 


PRINTED  AND  PUBLISHED  BY 
THE    AMERICAN    POULTRY    ASSOCIATION. 


TO  WHOM  IT  MAY  CONCERN: 

The  public  is  expressly  forbidden,  on  penalty  of  the  law, 
to  reproduce,  duplicate;  copy,  seek  to  imitate  or  to  make  any 
improper  use  of  any  of  the  illustrations  contained  in  this 
book,  all  of  which  are  the  exclusive  property  of  The  American 
Poultry  Association,  and  protected  by  copyright  in  the  United 
States,  England  and  Canada.  Pcr)nission  to  make  quotations 
from  the  text  of  this  book  is  granted,  proznded  such  quota- 
tions arc  disconnected,  few  in  number,  and  are  used  solely 
for  the  dissemination  of  knowledge ;  but  these  quotations  must 
not  be  used  to  an  extent  nor  in  a  manner  that  zvill  injure  the 
sale  of  this  work,  nor  may  they  be  used  for  odvcrtisin;/  pur- 
poses, as  in  circulars,  catalogues,  etc. 

Notice  is  hereby  given  that  any  infringement  of  the  copy- 
right on  the  contents  of  this  book  will  result  in  immediate 
prosecution. 

THE  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION. 


Copyright,  United  States,  Eiuiland  and  Canada,  1919, 

by 

THE  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION. 

All  Rights  Reserved. 


/V-  C-  state  uoiiGy^ 

INTRODUCTION. 


TO  THE   1915   REVISED   EDITION   OF  THE 
AMERICAN  STANDARD  OF  PERFECTION. 


THE  organization  of  the  American  Poultry  Association 
was  effected  at  Buffalo,  New  York,  February,  1873,  by 
delegates  from  different  state  and  county  associations, 
prominent  breeders,  fanciers,  and  other  interested  persons 
from  different  sections  of  the  United  States  and  Canada.  Mr. 
W.  H.  Churchman  of  Wilmington,  Delaware,  was  the  first 
president  and  Mr.  J.  M.  Wade  of  Philadelphia,  the  first  secre- 
tary. 

At  that  time  the  fundamental  object  of  this  organization 
was  to  standardize  the  different  varieties  of  domestic  and 
ornamental  fowls,  and  to  that  end,  a  complete  Standard  of 
Excellence  for  all  varieties  then  recognized,  was  formulated 
and  adopted  which  was  recommended  as  the  guide  for  judging 
at  all  poultry  exhibitions.  The  American  Poultry  Association 
has  since  broadened  its  scope.  Its  annual  conventions  have 
visited  nearly  all  of  our  large  industrial  centers. 

The  first  edition  of  the  Standard  was  issued  in  February, 
1874.  It  has  been  followed  by  several  revised  editions,  but 
the  work  of  the  first  Standard  makers  was  so  thorough,  accu- 
rate and  far-seeing  that  but  few  changes,  and  these  of  minor 
importance,  have  been  necessary.  Many  new  breeds  and 
varieties,  nearly  all  of  later  origin,  have  been  admitted.  After 
a  few  editions,  the  title  "Standard  of  Excellence"  was  changed 
to  read  "Standard  of  Perfection"  as  one,  theoretically  at  least, 
more  in  accord  with  its  prescribed  ideals. 

Until  1905,  all  editions  contained  text  descriptions  only, 
and  no  attempt  was  made  to  delineate  ideal  fowls.  The  1905 
edition  contains  this  innovation.  The  illustrations  were  line 
drawings  by  the  best  known  poultry  artists  of  that  time. 
These  were  received  with  approval,  in  sufficient  measure  so 
that  the  plan  of  presenting  outline  illustrations  of  many  of 
the  leading  varieties  were  continued.    The  type  of  illustrations 


1322'^ 


4  amj:i;ica.\   polltuy   A^aot'iATioy: 

was,  however,  changed  to  half-tone  iUustiations  of  retouched 
and  idealized  photographs  of  living  specimens.  These  ap- 
peared in  the  1910  edition  after  having  been  approved  by  the 
Thirty-fifth  Annual  Convention. 

It  has  been  the  general  policy  of  the  American  Poultry 
Association  to  revise  the  Standard  of  Perfection  every  five 
years,  this  work  being  most  carefully  done  by  Revision  Com- 
mittees chosen  to  represent  as  far  as  possible  the  interests  of 
all  sections  of  the  country  and  of  the  different  breed  classifica- 
tions. 

The  last  Revisi(jn  Ccjmmittec  was  appointed  at  the  Thirty- 
sixth  Annual  Meeting  at  Denver,  Colorado,  1911,  and  the  pres- 
ent or  1915  edition  of  the  Standard  of  Perfection  includes  the 
changes  and  additions  made  by  this  Committee  with  such 
further  changes  or  amendments  as  were  voted  by  the  Associa- 
tion at  its  Thirty-eighth  and  Thirtv-ninth  .Annual  Meetings  in 
1913  and  1914. 

The  1915  Standard  is  the  basis  for  the  present  work,  "The 
Wyandotte  Standard  and  Breed  Book,"  every  detail  applying 
to  this  breed  in  the  main  Standard  being  reproduced  verbatim 
in  this  work. 


^VYAyDOTTE  fiTAXDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK 


PREFACE. 


TO  THE  WYANDOTTE  STANDARD 
AND  BREED  BOOK. 


FOR  a  number  of  years  there  has  been  a  growing  demand 
among  poultry  breeders  for  the  publication  by  the  Ameri- 
can Poultry  Association  of  what  are  popularly  known  as 
Separate  Breed  Standards — a  series  of  books  each  one  contain- 
ing the  official  Standard  description  of  a  single  breed,  and  in 
addition,  reliable  and  authoritative  information  in  regard  to 
the  actual  breeding  of  such  fowls. 

This  work  the  Association  undertook  and  published  the 
Plymouth  Rock  Standard  and  Breed  Book,  the  first  of  the 
series,  which  was  promptly  followed  by  this,  the  Wyandotte 
Standard  and  Breed  Book,  the  second  in  the  series. 

The  first  step  taken  by  the  American  Poultry  Association 
toward  the  construction  and  publication  of  Breed  Books,  re- 
ferred to  at  that  time  and  even  yet,  as  Breed  Standards,  was 
the  adoption  at  the  Thirty-second  Annual  Meeting,  Bufifalo, 
August  15,  1910,  of  a  resolution  presented  by  Grant  M.  Curtis. 

The  presentation  and  adoption  of  this  resolution  was  the 
outcome  of  a  demand  more  or  less  general  on  the  part  of  the 
breeders  for  separate  "Breed  Standards,"  each  of  which  would 
describe  completely  one  breed  only,  in  addition  to  the  com- 
plete work,  the  "American  Standard  of  Perfection,"  which 
gives  a  description  of  best  shape  and  color  type  of  all  breeds 
and  varieties  recognized  by  the  American  Poultry  Association, 
as  well  as  illustrations  of  both  the  ideal  male  and  female  of  any 
of  the  leading  varieties ;  also,  rules  by  which  all  breeds  and 
varieties  are  judged  at  the  poultry  exhibitions  of  the  United 
States  and  Canada,  and  graphic  illustrations  of  the  ideal  comb, 
feather  markings  and  the  most  common  defects  of  standard 
fowls  in  shape,  color,  and  markings. 

By  the  terms  of  the  resolution,  the  scope  of  the  work  was 
much  more  comprehensive  than  the  breeders  in  general  had 


6  AM  E  HI  VAN    POULT  RY    AtiSOUIATlOS 

expected,  and  yet,  by  subsequent  action  of  the  Association, 
the  scope  of  this  work  was  to  be  still  greatly  enlarged.  In 
another  section  will  be  noticed  the  method  of  ascertaining  by 
eminently  fair  means  the  relative  popularity  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada  of  the  different  Standard  breeds  of  poultry. 

The  report  of  the  Secretary-Treasurer  at  the  Thirty-third 
Annual  Meeting  of  the  Association  in  August  of  1908,  showed 
that,  according  to  the  certified  reports  of  the  Secretaries  of 
Poultry  Associations,  holding  shows  between  October  31st, 
1907,  and  March  1st,  1908,  in  the  United  States  and  Canada, 
the  Plymouth  Rocks  led  all  other  breeds  in  number  of  birds 
exhibited. 

At  the  Thirty-sixth  Annual  Meeting  at  Denver,  August 
6-9,  1911,  a  resolution  was  passed,  providing  for  a  Plymouth 
Rock  Breed  Standard,  as  the  first  in  the  series,  and  creating  a 
committee  to  edit  and  publish  the  same. 

The  Committee  appointed,  consisting  of  D.  M.  Green,  S.  A. 
Noftzger,  W.  C.  Denney,  U.  R.  Fishel  and  A.  C.  Smith  as  Chair- 
man, representing,  as  actual  breeders,  five  of  the  six  Plym- 
outh Rock  varieties.  As  yet,  the  scope  of  the  work  had  not 
extended  beyond  that  outlined  earlier  in  this  article,  the  idea 
being  to  give  besides  the  descriptions,  illustrations,  definitions, 
graphic  sketches,  instructions  to  judges,  etc.,  as  found  in  the 
Standard  of  Perfection,  a  more  complete  history  of  each  vari- 
ety, a  more  complete  and  clearer  description  of  the  shape  and 
plumage,  the  common  defects  of  each,  and  colored  illustrations 
of  the  best  natural  feathers  that  could  be  secured. 

The  committee  as  above  named,  presented  a  report  with 
complete  manuscript  but  with  no  new  illustrations  to  the 
Thirty-seventh  Annual  Convention  at  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
1912,  but  because  the  time  to  elapse  before  the  next  revision 
was  held  to  be  too  short  to  warrant  the  expense  of  a  work  of 
this  kind,  the  Association  voted  to  withhold  publication  until 
after  the  next  (1915)  general  revision  of  the  Standard  of  Per- 
fection. 

At  the  Thirty-eighth  Annual  Meeting  at  Atlantic  City, 
August.  1913,  this  committee  sat  in  conference  with  the 
leading  breeders  of  I^lymouth  Rock  varieties  and  others  inter- 
ested and  as  the  result  of  these  conferences,  the  committee 
made  a  report  which  outlined  a  breed  standard  embodying 
several  new  features,  such  as  articles  on  single  and  double 
matings,  articles  especially  adapted  to  the  needs  of  beginners 
on   mating   the   different  varieties,   illustrations   showing  the 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  7 

relative  proportions  of  the  different  sections,  and  the  various 
markings  found  in  the  plumage  of  the  dift'erent  varieties. 

The  Thirty-eighth  and  Thirty-ninth  Annual  Meetings 
merely  ratified  the  action  of  the  Thirty-seventh  in  expressing  a 
determination  to  publish  Breed  Standards  after  the  publication 
of  the  1915  Revision  of  the  Standard  of  Perfection,  which  was 
not  effected  until  the  Fortieth  Annual  Meeting  at  San  Fran- 
cisco, November,  1915. 

By  the  action  of  the  Association  at  this  meeting,  the  Breed 
Standards  were  put  into  the  hands  of  the  Standing  Standard 
Committee,  and  by  the  terms  of  the  same  resolution,  this  com- 
mittee was  empowered  to  employ  artists,  clerks,  editors,  etc., 
to  proceed  with  the  work,  the  expense  of  which  was  to  be  met 
by  an  appropriation  by  the  Association  of  $2,000. 

A  Breed  Standard  Committee  was  appointed  at  the  San 
Francisco  meeting,  consisting  of 

Grant  M.  Curtis 
E.  E.  Richards 
Arthur  C.  Smith 
W.  S.  Russell 
W.  R.  Graham 

This  Committee  held  a  meeting  at  San  Francisco  immediately 
after  the  adjournment  of  the  Convention  and  another  was 
held  later  at  Buffalo,  New  York. 

This  meeting,  in  April,  1916,  was  attended  by  Messrs,  Cur- 
tis and  Smith  for  the  committee,  the  late  Secretary  Campbell 
representing  Pres.  Richards,  Artists  Sewell  and  Schilling,  and 
a  few  members  of  the  Association  who  were  called  for  consul- 
tation. At  this  meeting  the  text  and  illustrations  for  the  breed 
Standards  were  outlined  in  detail  and  a  complete  table  of  con- 
tents adopted,  work  upon  which  immediately  began.  Many  of 
these  illustrations  were  exhibited  at  the  Forty-first  Annual 
Meeting  at  Cleveland,  Ohio.  The  meeting  received  the  report 
of  the  committee  and  an  appropriation  to  complete  this  work 
and  publish  3,000  copies  of  the  Plymouth  Rock  Standard  and 
Breed  Book  and  3,000  copies  of  the  Wyandotte  Standard  and 
Breed  Book  (which  had  been  selected  as  the  second  of  the 
series  by  the  same  method  that  determined  the  Plymouth 
Rock  as  the  first)  was  voted  by  the  Association. 

Later,  the  personnel  of  this  committee  was  somewhat 
changed  by  the  resignations  of  Messrs.  Curtis  and  Graham  and 
the  appointments  of  Messrs.  H.  A.  Nourse  and  T.  F.  McGrew. 


amj:i:ica\  polltry  askociatwx 


INTRODUCTION. 


THAT  the  reader  may  get  a  correct  understanding  of  the 
scoi)e  and  purposes  of  btjth  the  American  Standard  of 
Perfection  and  the  separate  Breed  Standards,  a  few 
explanatory  statements  will  be  made  at  this  point.  First,  the 
separate  Breed  Standards  are  designed  to  supplement  the 
Standard  of  Perfection  and  not  to  supi)lant  it.  Again,  the 
Standard  of  Perfection  is  a  fully  illustrated,  well  printed,  and 
neatly  bound  volume  of  368  pages,  that  gives  a  complete 
though  necessarily  somewhat  concise  description  of  all  breeds 
and  varieties  recognized  by  the  American  Poultry  Association 
as  Standard-bred  poultry,  as  well  as  illustrations  of  both  the 
ideal  male  and  female  of  most  of  the  leading  varieties;  also, 
rules  by  which  all  breeds  and  varieties  are  judged  at  the  poul- 
try exhibitions  of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  and  graphic 
illustrations  of  ideal  combs,  feather  markings,  and  the  most 
serious  defects  of  standard-bred  fowls  in  shape,  color,  and 
markings.  It  is  the  poultry  breeder's  official  guide,  and  is 
almost  indispensable  to  all  who  are  directly  interested  in  the 
breeding  of  what  is  commonly  known  as  "pure-bred  fowls." 
For  the  separate  Breed  Standard,  it  has  been  argued  that 
the  average  breeder  who  keeps  only  a  single  breed  or  variety 
is  not  as  much  interested  in  the  description  of  the  many  other 
breeds  found  in  this  Standard.  In  practical  api)lication.  he 
wants  and  greatly  needs  more  than  this,  that  is.  reliable,  prac- 
tical instruction  in  how  to  mate  and  care  for  fowls  of  the  par- 
ticular breeds  in  which  he  is  interested,  in  order  that  he  may 
be  able  to  produce  as  large  a  proportion  as  jiossible  of  speci- 
mens that  shall  approach  closely  to  the  ideals  described  and 
presented  in  the  Standard  of  Perfection. 

The  present  volume,  as  the  second  of  the  Separate  Breed 
Standards,  represents  a  conscientious  efifort  on  the  part  of  the 
committee  to  render  this  service  to  the  breeders  of  Wyan- 
dottes.  This  book  contains  everything  that  appears  in  the 
Standard  of  Perfection  that  relates  directly  to  Wyandottes. 
In  addition  it  gives  full  detailed  infcjrmation  on  the  breeding, 
exhibiting,  rearing  and  marketing  of  such  fowls. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  9 

Obviously,  it  is  impossible  for  this  committee  to  formulate 
definite  rules,  the  application  of  which  may  be  expected  to 
bring  about  the  production  of  the  highest  exhibition  qualities 
in  Wyandottes  in  every  instance.  The  time  may  probably 
never  come  when  hard  and  fast  rules  for  all  phases  of  breeding 
problems  can  be  well  laid  down,  but  there  is  a  vast  difference 
between  an  attempt  to  achieve  this  seeminglyl  impossible 
accomplishment  and  the  policy  of  complete  silence  on  the 
many  problems  that  confront  the  breeder,  especially  the  begin- 
ner, who,  heretofore,  has  had  no  authentic  source  of  informa- 
tion on  the  practical  problems  involved  in  the  breeding  of 
Standard  fowls. 

And  we  believe  that  most  breeders,  certainly  most  of  those 
who  are  inexperienced,  will  welcome  reliable  information  de- 
signed to  solve  the  many  difficult  problems  associated  with 
this  task ;  will  appreciate  having  in  complete  and  connected 
form  a  plain  statement  of  the  fundamental  principles  involved 
in  this  work,  and  will  welcome  reliable  guidance  in  working 
out  the  details  of  the  special  problems  that  confront  them. 
(H.    T.   J.)  — 

LIST  OF  AUTHORS. 

The  Association  is  indebted  to  Messrs.  Homer  W.  Jack- 
son  for  several  articles  in  Part  I,  to  J.  H.  DrevengfeHt  and 
F.  L.  Piatt  for  the  articles  on  Origin,  Development,  Breeding, 
etcT7"oFWyandottes,  to  A.  C.  Smith  for  Part  H  and  articles 
on  Exhibiting,  etc.,  to  M.  L.  Chapman  for  the  article  on  Con- 
ditioning White  Birds,  to  Hr-rAr-iJ^ourse  for  the  treatise  on 
Practical  Poultry  Keeping,  and  to  John  S. -Martin  and  C.  T. 
Patterson  for  articles  on  Utility  Features  of  Wyandottes. 
Their  initials  are  appended  to  the  articles  written. 


THE    WYANDOTTE    STANDARD    AND 
BREED   BOOK. 


CONTENTS. 


PART  ONE:         Fundamentals  of  the  Wyandotte  Fowl. 


PART  TWO:        Successive  Stages  of  Development  in   Do- 
mestic Fowls. 


PART  THREE:  Standard-Bred  Wyandottes. 

PART  FOUR:      Wyandottes  For  and  In  the  Show  Room. 

PART   FIVE:       Practical  Poultry  Keeping. 

PART  SIX:  Utility  Features  of  the  Wyandotte  Fowl. 


PART    ONE. 
FUNDAMENTALS  OF  THE  WYANDOTTE  FOWL. 

SECTION  I. 
Nomenclature  and  Glossary  of  Technical  Terms. 
CHAPTER       I.     Glossary  of  Technical  Terms. 

SECTION   II. 

The   Score   Card  and   Instructions  for  Judging. 

CHAPTER       I.     Instructions  for  Judging  Wyandottes. 

CHAPTER     II.     General  Disqualifications  for  Wyandottes. 

CHAPTER  III.     Rules  for   Cutting  for   Defects   of   Wyan- 
dottes. 

SECTION  III. 
An  Explanation  of  Standard  Measurements  and  Color  Terms. 
CHAPTER       I.     Standard  Measurements. 
CHAPTER     II.     Color  Terms. 


Figure  1. 

NOMENCLATURE 


DIAGRAM  Off  HALE. 


1  HMd. 
8  Beak. 

3  NostrU. 

4  Comb. 

5  Face. 

6  Eye. 

7  Wattle. 

8  Ear. 

9  £ar-Lobe. 


10  Hackle. 

11  Front  of  Hackle. 

12  Breast. 

13  Cape. 

14  Shoulder. 

15  Wing-bow. 

16  Wing-front. 

17  Wlng-coverts.   Wing-bar. 

18  Secondaries,  Wing-ba^. 


lit  I'rlmartes.   Flights. 
L'o  I*iiniarj-coverts. 
lil  Mack. 

22  Saddle. 

23  Saddle    Feathers. 

24  Sickles. 

25  Smaller  Sickles. 

26  Tail -coverts. 

27-27   Main  TaU  Feathers. 


28  Body  Feathers. 

29  Fluff. 
3U  Tliighs. 
31-31   Hocks. 
32-32  Shanks. 
33-33  Spurs. 
34-34  Feet. 
35-35-35  Toes. 
36-36  Toe  Nails. 


Figure  2. 

NOMENCLATURE- 
DIAGRAM  OF  FEMALE 


1  Head. 

10  Neck. 

19  Primaries.    Flights. 

28  Fluff. 

2  Beak. 

11  Front  of  Neck. 

20  Primary-coverts. 

29  Thighs. 

3  Nostril. 

12  Breast. 

21  Back. 

30-30  Hocks. 

4  Comb. 

13  Cape. 

22  Sweep  of  Back. 

31-31  Shanks. 

5  Face. 

14  Shoulder. 

23  Cushion. 

32  Spur. 

8  Eye. 

15  Wing-bow. 

21-24  Main  Tail  Feathers. 

S3- 33  Feet. 

7  Wattle. 

16  Wing-front. 

25-25  Tail-coverts. 

34-34-34  Toes. 

8  Ear. 

17  Wing-coverts. 

26-26  Tail-cov»rt3. 

35-35  Toe  Nails. 

9  Ear-Lobe. 

18  Secondaries.  Wing-bay. 

27  Bcdv   Feathers. 

14  AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


SECTION     I. 

CHAPTER  I. 
GLOSSARY  OF  TECHNICAL  TERMS. 

Bay. — A  rich  hrown-rcd  ;  red  with  a  brown  tinge,  similar  to 
reddish  chestnut.  ( Bay  shows  more  red  than  mahogany. 
See  mahogany.) 

Beak. — The  projecting  mouth  parts  of  chickens  and  turkeys, 
consisting  of  upper  and  lower  tnandibles.  (See  figures 
1  and  2.) 

Black. — Absence  of  spectral  color.  The  opposite  or  negative 
of  white. 

Brassiness. — Having  the  color  of  brass;  yellowish.  A  serious 
defect  in  all  varieties  of  Wyandottes. 

Breast. — As  applied  to  fowls,  this  term  is  generally  understood 
to  mean  that  part  which  surrounds  the  fore  part  or  keel 
bone.     (See  figures  1  and  2.) 

Breed. — A  race  of  fowls,  the  members  of  which  maintain  dis- 
tinctive shape  characteristics  that  they  possess  in  common. 
Breed  is  a  broader  term  than  variety.  Breed  includes  vari- 
eties, as.  for  examjile.  the  Silver.  WHiitc  and  Bufif  varieties 
of  the  Wyandotte  breed. 

Breeder. — A  l)roafl,  general  term  that  designates  the  poultry 
raiser  who  produces  fowls  for  any  special  purpose  with  the 
object  of  improving  their  value,  or  in  conformity  with  an 
agreed  standard  of  excellence. 

Breeding  In-and-in. — (See  "inbreeding.") 

Brown. — A  color  formed  by  mingling  red,  yellow  and  black. 

BufT. — Standard  buff  color  is  a  lustrous,  orange  yellow;  some- 
times described  as  a  soft,  brownish  yellow^ 

Cape. — The  short  feathers  on  the  back  underneath  the  hackle, 
collectively  shaped  like  a  cape.     (See  figures  1  and  2.) 

Carriage. — The  attitude,  bearing  or  style  of  a  bird. 

Chick. — The  young  of  the  domestic  fowl,  properly  ajiplied 
until  the  sex  can  be  distinguished ;  sometimes  used  to 
designate  specimens  less  than  a  year  old. 

Chicken. — Si)ecifically.  the  young  of  the  domestic  fowl  prior 
to  the  development  of  adult  ])lumage  ;  also  used  as  a  gen- 
eral term  to  designate  all  domestic  fowls  except  turkeys, 
ducks  and  geese. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


Class. — A  group  of  fowls  consisting  of  one  or  more  breeds 
having  a  common  place  of  origin  or  possessing  certain  spe- 
cial characteristics  in  common. 
Cock. — A  male  fowl  one  year  old  and  over. 

Cockerel. — A  male  fowl  less  than  one 

year  old. 
Comb. — The  fleshy  protuberance  grow- 
ing on  top  of  a   fowl's  head.     All 
varieties  of  Wyandottes  have  rose 
combs.     (See  figure  3.) 
Condition. — The  state  of  a  fowl  in  re- 
gard to  health,  cleanliness  and  or- 
der of  plumage. 
Coverts. — (See    tail,    flight   and    wing- 
coverts.)     (See  figures  1  and  2.) 
Creaminess. — Having     the     color     of 

cream  ;  light  yellow. 
Crop. — The  enlargement  of  the  gullet 
in  which  a  fowl's  food  is  accumu- 
lated before  it  passes  to  the  gizzard. 
Cushion. — The  mass  of  feathers  at  the 
fowl,  partly  covering  the  tail.     (See  fig- 


Figure   3. 

Ideal  Comb  for  Wy- 
andotte Male — Any  and 
All  Varieties.  1.  Base; 
2.  Rounded  Points ;  3. 
Point    or   Spike. 


rear  of  back  of  a 

ure  2.) 
Disqualification. — A  deformity  or  serious  defect  that  renders  a 

fowl  unworthy  to  win  a  prize. 
Disqualified. — Applied   to   a   fowl    that   is   un- 
worthy to  win  a  prize. 
Domestic  Fowl. — An  individual  of  the  genus 

gallus  domesticus. 
Down. — The    first    hairy    covering    of    chicks ; 

also,    the    tufts    of    hair-like    growth    that 

sometimes  are  found  on  the 

shanks,  toes,  feet  or  webs  of 

feet  of  fowls. 

(NOTE.— If    the    quill    and 

web    are    discernible    to    the 

eye,  it  is  a  "feather.") 
Duck-Footed. — The  hind  toe  car- 
ried forward.    (See  figure  4.) 
Ear-Lobe. — The  fold  of  bare  skin  just  below  the  ear.      (See 

figures  1  and  2.) 
Edging. — A  narrow  border  of  white  or  light  color  along  the 

side  or  around  the  end  of  a  darker  colored  feather. 


Figure   4. 
Foot    (A    Defect) 


AMinflCAX   Pni'LTRY   ASSOCIATIOX 


(lisli.iL^urin^.    abnormal    or    supc•rfluou^ 


)Ut- 


Excrescence. — A 

ijrowth. 

Face. — The  hare  skin  on  the  head  of  a  fowl  aroinul  and  l)c-lo\v 
the  eyes.     (See  fig^ures  1.  2  and  3.) 
Faking. — Removing^,  or  attempting  to   remove, 
foreign  color  from  the  face  or  ear-lobes  when 
it  is  a  dis(|ualihcation  ;  removing  one  or  more 
side  sprigs;  trimming  a  comb  in  any   man- 
ner; artilicial   coloring  or  bleaching  of  any 
feather  or  feathers  ;  splicing  feathers  ;  injur- 
ing the  ])lumage  of  any  fowl  entered  by  an- 
other exhibitor;  plugging  up  holes  in  legs  of 
smooth-legged    varieties    where    feathers    or 
stubs    disqualify;   staining  of   legs;   in    fact, 
any  self-evident  attempt  on   the  part  of  an 
exhibitor  to  deceive  the  judge  and  thus  ob- 
tain an  unfair  advantage  in  competition. 
Fancier. — A   breeder  of  ])oultry   who   seeks   to 
jiroduce  chickens,  turkeys,  ducks  or  geese  in 
conformity  with  an  ideal  or  prescribed  stand- 
ard of  excellence. 
Feather. — A    growth    formed    of    a 
quill    or    shaft    and    a   vane    (cal 
upon  each  side  of  it.     (See  figures  5  and 
9.)     (NOTE.— When  quill  is  not  discerni- 
ble to  the  eye,  it  is  down.) 
Flights. — The  primary  feathers  of  the  wing. 
used  in  flying  but  out  of  sight,  or  nearly 
so,  when  wing  is  folded.     (See  figures   1 
and  2.) 
Flight  Coverts. — The  sliort.  moderately  stiff         _; 
feathers    located  at  the  base  t)f  the  wing 
])rimaries    or    flight    feathers,    and    partly 
covering  their  quills.  (See  figures  1  and  2.) 
Fluff. — The   soft   feathers   about   thighs   and 
])osterior    part    of    fowl ;    also    the    soft 
downy  part  of  a  feather.     (See  figures  1 
and  2.) 
Foreign  Color. — Any  color  on  a  feather  that 
(liti'ers  from  the  color  prescribed  for  such 
feather  as  a  ])art  of  the  plumage  of  a  Standard-bred  fowl. 
Fowl. — A  term  generally  used  to  denote  the  common,  domes- 
tic cock  or  hen. 


ife 


Figure   5. 
Sections      of 
Feather. 


discernible 
led    "web") 


Figure    6. 

"Frosting"  oi 

Laced    Fe.itiier. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK 


Frosting. — A  white  or  light  colored  mar- 
ginal edging  or  tracing  on  feathers  of 
laced  or  penciled  varieties. 
(This  type  of  lacing  (sec  figure  6)  in 
the  breast  of  a  male,  red  in  the  case 
.  of  the  Partridge  Wyandotte  or  silver 
white   in   the    Silver-Penciled    Vv''yan- 
dotte,  may  denote  that  the  specimen 
belongs  to  a  line  bred  for  production 
of  exhibition  females.) 
Gray. — A  color  formed  by  blending  white 
and  black,  frequently  with  a  dash  of 
red  or  other  primary  colors.     In  com- 
mon usage,  black  modified  by  white  to 
form  a  dull  whitish  tint. 
Hackle. — The    neck    plumage    of    males, 
formed  of  the  hackle  feathers.      (See 
figures  1  and  7.) 
Hackle     Feathers. — The     long,     narrow 
feathers  growing  on  the  necks  of  the 
males.     (See  figures  1  and  7.) 
Hangers. — A  term  sometimes  applied  to 
the  smaller  sickles  and  tail-coverts  of 
males.     (See  figure  1.) 

Head. — The  part  of  a  fowl  composed  of 
skull  and  face,  to  which  the  comb,  beak, 
wattles  and  ear-lobes  are  attached.  (See 
figure  1.) 
Hen-Feathered. — A  male  bird  that  resem- 
bles  a   hen,   owing  to   the    absence   of 
sickles,  pointed  hackle  feathers,  etc.,  is 
said  to  be  "hen-feathered." 
Hock. —  (See  "knee-joint";  also,  figure   1.) 
Horn-Color. — Dark,  bluish  gray  under  an 

enameled  surface. 
Inbreeding. — The  breeding  of  very  closely 
related    individuals,    as    sire    and    off- 
spring,   or    brother    and    sister.      The 
closest  form  of  line  breeding. 
Iridescent. — Exhibiting  colors  like  those  of 
a  rainbow ;  a  prismatic  play  of  color. 
Figure  8.  ^  Kecl. — The    median   ridge   on   the   breast- 

Stnped     Neck     Feath-  ,  -    .         ,  ° 

er,   Female   (Ideal).  boUC    of  fowls. 


Figure   7. 
Striped  Neck  (Hackle) 
Feather,   Male   (Ideal). 


18 


AMERICAX   POULTRY   ASSOCIATIOX 


Knee-joint. — In  fowls,  the  joint  between  the  thigh  and  shank 
is  called  the  knee-joint.     (See  figures  1  and  2.) 
Knock-Kneed. — A  deformity  in  which  the  legs  come  too  near 

togitlur  at  the  knee-joints,  and  are  bent  outward,  laterally, 

below  the  knees. 


Figure   9. 


DIVISIONS   OF   THE   FEATHER 
A.     Quill  or  shaft  at  the  root  of  feather.     (See  technical  terms.) 


^.     Quil 
i.     Tip 

C,  C.     Fluff  and  undercolor. 
p,  p.     Web  and  surface  cole 
Fringe  (or  border). 


E,  E. 


(See   technical    terms.) 
(See  technical   terms.) 


The  fringe  is  that  portion  of  a  feather  at  the  extremities  of  the  web  and  tij) 
where  the  fibers  are  not  joined  by  barbules.  In  self  or  solid  colors,  this  border  or 
edge  is  more  glossy  than  the  web.  In  parti-colors  the  color  changes  usually  at  the 
junction  of  the  central  web  and  the  border  as  in  hackle  of  a  Columbian  Wyandotte. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


19 


Laced — Lacing. — A  term  applied  to  feathers  edged  or  bor- 
dered with  a  well-defined  band  of  color,  different  from  the 
ground  color  of  the  feathers. 

Leg. — Includes  thigh  and  shank.  (See  figures 
1  and  2.) 

Line-Breeding. — Breeding  from  a  male  and  fe- 
male of  the  same  strain  or  line  of  descent. 

Lopped-Comb. — A  comb  falling  over  to  one 
side.  To  disqualify  for  a  lopped  rose  comb 
it  must  lop  over  far  enough  to  come  in  con- 
tact with  one  side  of  the  head  or  obstruct  the 
sight.     (See  figure  12.) 

Luster. — The  special  brightness  of  plumage  that 
gives  brilliancy  to  the  surface  color  of  the 
fowl  or  section. 

Mahogany. — A  brownish-red.     (See  Bay.) 

Mealy. — Having  the  appearance  of  being  sprin- 
kled with  meal.  Applied  to  bufif  or  red  varie- 
ties where  the  ground  color  is  stippled  with 
a  lighter  color.     (See  "Stipple,"  also  figure  10.) 

Mossy. — Irregular,  dark  penciling  appearing  in  feathers  a^nd 


Figure    10. 

Mealy  (Defective) 

Feather. 


destroying 
ure  11.) 


the    desirable    contrast    of    color.       (See    fig- 


Mottled. — Marked  on  the  surface  with  spots  of 
different  colors  or  shades  of  color. 

Nostrils, — Openings  beginning  at  base  of  beak 
and  extending  into  the  head. 

Obtuse  Angle. — An  angle  greater  than  a  right 
angle,  i.  e.,  one  containing  more  than  ninety 
degrees.     (See  figure  22.) 

Parti-Colored. — A  term  applied  to  feathers  or 
fowls  having  two  or  more  colors. 

Pen. —  (Exhibition)  A  male  and  four  females 
of  the  same  variety. 

Penciling. — Small    markings    or    stripes   on    a 

feather.     They  may  run  straight  across,  as 

in  the  Penciled  Hamburgs,  in  which   case 

they  frequently  are  called  "bars,"  or  may 

follow  the  outline  of  the  feather,  taking  a 

crescentic  form,  as  in  Silver  Penciled  and 

Partridge  Wyandottes.     (See  figure  13.) 

Peppered — Peppering. — Sprinkled  with  gray  or  black.      (See 

"Mealy." 


Figure    11. 

Mossy  (Defective) 

Feather. 


20 


AMKJUCAX    I'OiLTUY    A^S.suvIATWy 


a  fowl, 
and  to 


Figure    12. 

Lopped  Comb 

(  DisfinalificatioiO 


Pinion  Feathers. — The  feathers  attached  to  tlie  joint  of  the 

winj;  that  is  most  remote  from  the  body. 
Plumage. — The  feathers  of  a  fowl. 

Poultry. — Domesticated    fowls    reared    for   exhibition,   or    for 
their  eggs,  flesh,  or  featliers.     Poultry   includes  chickens, 
turkeys,  geese  and  ducks. 
,'7<^f.  V.  Primaries. —  (See  "Flights.") 

Profile. — A  direct  side  view  of 
Applied    to   live   specimens 
illustrations. 
Pullet.^ — A  female  foul  less  than  a  year 

old. 
Pure-Bred. — 'rtchnically,  a  fowl  whose 
l)reeding  is  "pure"  with  respect  to 
certain  characters.     In  general  use, 
the  term  often  is  inaccurately  used 
when  "Standard-bred"  is  meant. 
Purple. — .\  color  produced  by  a  com- 
binati(jn  of  red  and  blue;  includes 
all  shades  produced  bv  this  combination,  such  as  lilac,  vio- 
let, etc. 
Quill. — The  hollcjw,  horny,   basal   i)art  or   stem 

(See  "Shaft";  also,  figure  5.) 
Red, — The  spectral  color  opposite  to  blue.     Red 

covers  a  wide  range  of  hues  and  shades. 
Rose  Comb. — A  low.  solid  comb,  the  upper  sur- 
face   free    from    hollow    center   and    covered 
with  small  rounded  points.   This  comb  termi- 
nates in  a  well-developed  spike  which  turns 
downward  on  Wyandottes.     (See  figure  3.) 
Rump. — The  rear  part  of  the  back  of  a  fowl. 
Saddle. — The  rear  part  of  the  back  of  a  male 
bird,  extending  to  the   tail   and   covered  by 
the  saddle  feathers.     (See  figure  1.) 
Saddle     Hackle. — The     long,     narrow,    pointed 
feathers  growing  from  a  male  bird's  saddle 
and   drooping  at  the  sides.     (See  figure   1.) 
Scaly  Leg. — One  with  incrustations  or  deposits 

U])on  and  beneath  the  scales. 
Secondaries. — The  long  quill  feathers  that  grow  on  the  sec«Mid 
joint  or  fore-arm  (^f  a  fowl's  wing,  visible  when  the  wing  is 
folded.  With  the  primaries,  they  constitute  the  main 
feathers  of  the  wing.     (See  figures  1  and  2.) 


if  a   feather. 


l'"igure    li. 
I'l'iK-iliiiK,   Crcs- 
c  e  u  t  i  c     1'  o  r  m 
(I.k'al). 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


21 


Figure   14. 
One    Form    of    Shaft- 
ing   (a   Defect). 


Section.— A  distinct  part  or  portion  of  a  fowl's  body,  especially 

one  of  the  parts  or  portions  considered  in  judging  fowls. 

Self-Color — Solid-Color. — A  uniform  color  unmixed  with  any 

other. 
Shaft.— The  stem  of  a  feather,  especially  the  part  filled  with 
pith,  which  bares  the  barbs.     (See  figure 
5.)     Properly  the  part  to  which  the  vane 
is  attached,  but  sometimes  applied  to  the 
entire  stem,  including  quill. 
Shafting. — The  shaft  of  the  plume  portion 
of  a  feather,  being  lighter  or  darker  in 
color  than  the  web  of  the  feather.     See 
figures  5  and  14.) 
Shank. — The  lower,  scaly  portion  of  a  fowl's 
leg,  exclusive  of  the  feet  and  toes.     (See 
figures  1  and  2.) 
Sickles. — The  long,  curved  feathers  of  the 
male  bird's  tail,  properly  applied  to  the 
top  pair  only,  but  sometimes  used  in  re- 
ferring   to    the    prominent    tail-coverts, 
which  are  also  called  smaller  sickles. 
Slate. — Gray,  of  medium  or  dark  shades. 

Slipped  Wing.— A  wing  of  a  fowl  not  closely  folded  and  held 
up  in  proper  position;  a  defect  resulting  from   injury  or 
from  weakness  of  muscles  of  wing.     (See  figure  15.) 
Smaller  Sickles. — See  "Sickles." 
Splashed     Feather. — A     feather 
with  colors  scattered  and  ir- 
regularly   intermixed.      (See 
figure  16.) 
Spur. — A     horn-like     protuber- 
ance growing  from  the  inner 
side  of  the  shank  of  a  fowl. 
It  may  be  knob-like  or  point- 
ed, acording  to  the  age  and 
the   sex   of   the   fowl.      (See 
figure  1.) 
Squirrel  Tail. — A  fowl's  tail,  any 

portion  of  which  projects  forward,  beyond  a  perpendicular 
line  drawn  through  the  juncture  of  the  tail  and  back.     (See 
figure  17.) 
Standard-Bred. — Fowls  bred  to  conform  to  the  requirements 
of  the  American  Standard  of  Perfection. 


Figure  15. 

Slipped    Wing    and    Twisted 

Feather  (Defects). 


22 


AMKJilCAX   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


under  part  of  the  posterior  section  of 


paint  or 


Figure     16. 
M)lashed    (De- 
fective) 
Feather. 


Stem. — The  lower 

a  fowl. 
Stipple. — \'erb,  to  execute  on  stipple,  i.  e.,  to  draw, 
engrave   by   means   of   dots   instead   of   lines. 
Noun,  the  effect  obtained  in  color  work  by  the 
use  of  dots  instead  of  strokes  or  lines.     (See 
figure  18.) 
Strain.— A  family  of  any  variety  of  fowls  bred  in 
line  by  descent  by  one  breeder,  or  successor, 
during  a  number  of  years,  that  has  acquired 
individual  characteristics  which  distinguish  it 
more  or  less  from  specimens  of  other  strains 
of  the  same  variety. 
Stripe. — A  line  or  band  of  color,  regular  or  ir- 
regular in   form,  that  differs   from   the   body 
color  of  feather.     (See  figures  7  and  8.) 
Striped  Feather. — A  feather,  the  surface  of  which 
contains  a  line  or  lines  of  color,  regular  or  ir- 
regular in  form,  differing  from  the  body  color. 
When  more  than  one  stripe  is  present  the  feather  is  said 
to  be  laced  or  pencilled. 
Stub. — A  short  feather  or  portion  of  a  feather,   when    found 
between  or  under  scales  of  shanks  or  toes. 

Surface    Color. — The    color   of 
that    portion    of    the    plu- 
mage of  a  fowl  that  is  visi- 
ble   when    the    feathers   are 
in  their  natural  position. 
Symmetry. — Perfection  of  pro- 
portion ;  the  harmony  of  all 
parts  or  sections  of  a  fowl, 
viewed  as  a  whole,  with  re- 
gard  to  the   Standard   type 
of  tlie  l)reed  it  represents. 
Tail-Coverts. — The  curved  fea- 
thers   in    front   and   at   the 
sides  of  the  tail.     (See  fig- 
ure 1.) 
Tail     Feathers.  —  Main;     the 
straight  and  stiff  feathers  of  the  tail   that   arc   contained 
inside  the  sickles  and  tail-coverts;  the  top  pair  are  some- 
times  slightly   curved,   but   generally   are   straight.      (See 
figures  1  and  2.) 


Sq 


Figure    17. 
irrel   Tail.      (A   Disqualifica- 
tion in  Wyandottes.) 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  23 

Thigh. — That  part  of  the  leg  above  the  shank.  (See  figures 
1  and  2.) 

Ticking. — Small  specks  of  color  on  feathers,  that  differ  from 
the  ground  or  body  color. 

Tipped. — -A  term  applied  to  a  feather  the  web  end  of  which 
differs  in  color  from  the  color  of  the  body  or  main  portion 
of  the  feather. 

Trio. — One  male  and  two  females  of  the  same  variety. 

Twisted  Feather. — Feather  with  quill  or  shaft  twisted.  (See 
figure  15.) 

Typical. — Expressing  a  characteristic  in  color  or  form,  repre- 
sentative of  a  breed  or  variety ;  for  example,  typical  shape, 
meaning  the  form  peculiar  to  a  breed. 

Undercolor. — The  color  of  the  downy  portion  of 
the  plumage,  not  visible  when  the  plumage 
of  the  fowl  is  in  natural  position.  (See  fig- 
ures 5  and  9.) 

Variety. — A  sub-division  of  a  breed  (See  defini- 
tion of  "breed")  used  to  distinguish  fowls 
having  the  Standard  shape  of  the  breed  to 
which  they  belong,  but  dift'ering  in  color  of 
the  plumage  from  other  groups  of  the  same 
breed.  The  general  difference  between  the 
terms  "breed"  and  "variety"  is  well  brought 
out  in  the  statement  popular  among  breeders 
and  fanciers  :  "Shape  makes  the  breed  ;  color, 
the  variety." 

Wattles. — The  pendant  growth  at  the  sides  and 
base  of  beak. 

Web. — Web  of  Feather :  The  flat  portion  of  a  feather,  made 
up  of  a  series  of  barb^  on  either  side  of  the  shaft.  (See 
figure  5.)  Web  of  Feet:  The  flat  skin  between  the  toes. 
Web  of  Wings :  The  triangular  skin  between  the  shoulder 
and  forearm  of  wing. 

White. — A  composition  of  all  colors;  the  opposite  of  black. 
Enamel  White  :  White  with  glossy  surface.  Silvery  White : 
A  metallic,  lustrous  white,  without  trace  of  yellow. 

Wing-Bar. — The  stripe  or  bar  of  color  extending  across  the 
middle  of  the  wing,  formed  by  the  color  or  markings  of  the 
wing-coverts.     (See  figure  1.) 

Wing-Bay. — The  triangular  section  of  the  wing,  below  the 
wing-bar,  formed  by  the  exposed  portion  of  the  secondaries 
when  the  wing  is  folded.     (See  figures  1  and  2.) 


IV.  r 


24 


AMKinCAS    POl  LTRY   ASSOCIATION 


Wing-Bow. — The  upper  or  shoulder  part  of  the  \\\n^^.     (See 

I'li^ures   1  and  2.) 
Wing-Coverts. — The   small,  close  feathers  clothing  the  bend 
of  the  \vin<;  and  c<>\ering  the  roots  of  the  secondary  feath- 
ers.    (See  figures  1  and  2.) 

Wing-Front. — The  front  edge  of  the  wing 
at  the  shcjulder.     This  section  of  the 
wing  is  sometimes  called  "wing-hutt." 
The  term  wing-front  is  recommended, 
thus  avoiding  c(jnfusion.     (See  figures 
1  and  2.) 
Wing-Point. — The  ends  of  the  primaries, 
sometimes    erroneousy    called    "wing- 
l)Utt."     (See  figures  1  and  2.) 
Wry  Tail. — Tail  of  a  bowl  turned  to  one 
side.  i)ermanently  so.     (See  figure  19.) 
Yellow. — The    spectral    color    between 
^reen  and  orange,  similar  to  gold  ;  as 
"  Figure  19.  ap])lied   to   fowls'  legs,   beaks,   etc..   a 

Showing  Wry-Tail,  ricli.  lemon-ycllow  is  meant. 

(A     Disqualification.) 


Rear    View. 
After   Removing   Feathers. 


Figure   20. 


Side    \'iew. 
Before    Removing    Featiiers. 


Rear  View  after  Main-Tail  Feathers  and  Large  Sickles  Have  Been  Removed, 
Leaving  Smaller  Sickles  and  Tail-Coverts.  (An  Example  of  Faking  for  the  Purpose 
of  Improving  Shape  or  to  Destroy   Evidences  of   Defective  Color.) 


fi.  C  State  College 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  25 

SECTION    II. 

CHAPTER  I. 

INSTRUCTIONS  FOR  JUDGING  WYANDOTTES. 

MERIT. — The  merit  of  specimens  shall  be  determined  by 
a  careful  examination  of  all  sections  in  the  "Scale  of 
Points,"  beginning  with  symmetry  and  continuing 
through  the  list,  deducting  from  the  full  value  of  each  section 
of  a  perfect  specimen,  for  such  defects  as  are  found  in  the  spec- 
imen. Judges  must  familiarize  themselves  with  the  scale  of 
points  of  each  breed  they  are  to  pass  upon  to  intelligently 
award  prizes.  And  it  must  be  understood  that  no  more  and  no 
less  value  can  be  placed  on  any  section  than  is  provided  for  in 
the  "Scale  of  Points."  And  it  shall  be  further  understood  that 
this  system  must  be  applied  whether  judged  by  score-card  or 
comparison.  The  minimum  cut  for  any  section  shall  be  one- 
fourth  of  one  point. 

Weight. — All  specimens  shall  be  judged  according  to  their 
Standard  weights,  provided,  however,  that  the  disqualifying 
weight  for  chicks  shall  not  apply  until  December  first  of 
each  year.  Deduct  two  points  per  pound  for  amount  lacking 
from  Standard  weights,  and  in  that  proportion  for  any  frac- 
tional part  of  a  pound,  using  one-fourth  pound  as  a  minimum, 
the  specimen  to  have  the  benefit  of  any  fraction  less  than 
one-fourth  pound. 

When  adult  specimens  are  equal  in  score  and  are  above 
or  below  Standard  weight,  the  one  nearest  weight  shall  be 
awarded  the  prize,  except  when  one  specimen  is  cut  for 
weight,  and  the  others  are  not,  in  which  case  the  specimen 
that  is  Standard  weight  or  above  shall  be  awarded  the  prize. 
In  the  case  of  chicks  or  immature  specimens  having  an  equal 
score,  when  cut  for  lack  of  weight,  the  one  of  less  weight 
shall  be  awarded  the  prize ;  but  when  each  of  such  specimens 
is  of  Standard  weight,  or  over,  the  one  nearest  weight  shall 
be  awarded  the  prize. 

(CAUTION — The  weight  clause  must  not  be  understood 
to  mean  that  a  small  but  over-fat  specimen  is  within  the  spirit 

This  chapter  is  taken  from  the  Standard  of  Perfection,  and  is 
quoted  verbatim,  except  for  changes  made  necessary  by  the  omission 
of  such  instructions  as  in  no  way  apply  to  the  judging  of  Wyan- 
dottes. 


AMEIx'lCAX    POL  LTliV    ASSOCIATION 


of  the  meaning  of  the  Standard;  the  size  must  be  propor- 
tionate to  the  weight,  preserving  the  ideal  shape  and  type 
(if  the   Standard  specimen.) 

Reweighing.^The  judge  may,  at  his  option,  demand  the 
reweighing  of  the  S])ecimens  in  competition,  in  all  cases  where 
Standard  weights  a})ply. 

Wing  Division. — In  discount- 
ing the  color  of  wings,  the  sec- 
tion shall  be  divided  into  three 
separate  parts,  allowing  two 
points  for  fronts,  wing-bow  and 
bar ;  two  for  primaries  and  pri- 
mary-coverts ;  two  for  secon- 
daries and  no  greater  value  can 
he  placed  on  any  one  of  these 
])arts.     (See  figure  21.) 

Scores  Entitling  Specimens 
to  Prizes. — To  receive  a  first 
l)rize  the  specimen  must  score 
ninety  points  or  more,  except 
cocks  of  all  parti-colored  va- 
rieties, which  may  be  awarded 
first  prize,  provided  they  score 
eighty-eight  points  or  more.  For 
each  receding  prize  drop  one 
point.  A  pen  to  win  first  prize 
must  score  one  hundred  and 
eighty  points  or  more,  unless  it 
contains  a  cock  of  a  parti-col- 
ored variety,  in  which  case  one  hundred  and  seventy-eight 
points  or  more  may  win  first  prize  ;  but  first  prize  shall  not 
be  given  on  a  pen  if  the 
male  in  the  pen  scores 
less  than  eighty-eight 
points.  No  prize  shall 
i)e  awarded  an  exhibi- 
tion pen  if  any  specimen 
in  the  pen  scores  less 
than  eighty-five  points. 

Sweepstake  Prizes. — 
In  competition  for 
sweepstake  prizes,  when  FiRure  22. 

Diagram  Sliowing  Degrees  from  Horizontal. 


Figure    21. 

Showing    Divisions   of   Wing. 

1  Flights  or  Primaries   2  Secondaries 

3     l-ronts,    wing-hows    and    bar. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  27 

solid-colored  specimens  compete  with  parti-colored  specimens, 
white  specimens  shall  be  handicapped  two  points  each,  black 
specimens  one  and  one-half  points  each,  buff  specimens  one 
point  each ;  after  such  reduction,  the  specimen  having-  the 
highest  score,  or  the  specimens  having  the  highest  average 
or  combined  score  shall  be  awarded  the  prize. 

Old  and  Young  Specimens. — All  other  points  being  equal, 
where  prizes  are  offered  on  old  and  young  specimens  com- 
peting together,  the  former  shall  be  awarded  the  prizes. 

Faking. — Faking  of  any  description  shall  debar  from  com- 
petition specimens  so  treated.  (See  Glossary  for  what  is 
meant  by  "Faking.") 

Creaminess  or  Brassiness. — In  White  Wyandottes  the 
presence  of  brassiness  on  surface,  or  creaminess  of  quills  or 
undercolor  is  a  serious  defect  and  is  to  be  discounted  accord- 
ingly. 

Bleaching  by  means  of  chemicals  is  such  a  harmful  prac- 
tice that  where  it  is  proved  by  other  evidence  than  the  con- 
dition of  the  specimen,  or  specimens,  such  bleached  specimen 
or  specimens  shall  be  considered  faked  and  disqualified. 

Score  of  Exhibition  Pen. — To  ascertain  the  score  of  an  ex- 
hibition pen,  add  the  scores  of  the  females  together  and  di- 
vide the  sum  by  the  number  of  females  in  the  pen ;  to  the 
quotient  thus  obtained,  add  the  score  of  the  male  and  this 
sum  shall  be  the  score  of  the  exhibition  pen. 

Dated  Score  Cards. — All  score  cards  made  out  by  judges 
applying  the  Standard  are  to  be  dated  with  ink,  indelible  pen- 
cil or  stamp  on  the  date  the  specimens  are  judged. 

Defective  Score  Card. — It  shall  be  considered  irregular  for 
a  judge  to  sign  a  score  card  unless  the  weight  is  considered, 
regardless  of  the  season. 

Private  Scoring. — Private  scoring  of  specimens  is  not  ad- 
visable and  members  of  this  Association  are  directed  not  to 
lend  their  support  to  the  practice  as  a  selling  method.  Judges 
are  ordered  to  weigh  each  specimen  and  apply  the  proper  cut 
and  to  make  proper  cuts  for  the  condition  of  the  specimen 
at  the  time  the  fowl  is  scored. 

Ties. — In  case  of  ties  between  two  or  more  specimens  that 
cannot  be  broken  by  any  of  the  previous  rules,  the  specimen 
receiving  the  smallest  total  sum  of  cuts  for  shape  shall  be 
awarded  the  prize.  In  case  of  ties  on  exhibition  pens,  when 
the  tying  pens  contain  either  all  old  or  all  young  specimens, 


28  A.MEIUCAX   POVLTKY   ASSOCIATIOX 

the  adult  pen  shall  win  ;  when  the  tying  pens  are  both  adult 
or  both  young,  the  pen  containing  the  highest  scoring  male 
shall  win;  when  the  tying  \)vus  contain  females  of  mixed  ages, 
the  pen  containing  the  highest  scoring  male  shall  win;  when 
one  of  the  pens  contains  all  hens  or  all  pullets,  while  the 
other  contains  females  of  mixed  ages,  the  pen  having  all  the 
females  either  adult  or  young  shall  win ;  when  the  tie  cannot 
be  broken  by  any  of  the  above  rules,  the  pen  C(jntaining  the 
lowest  total  of  shai)e  cuts  in  the  five  main  shape  sections 
shall  win. 


IN  APPLYING  THE   COMPARISON    SYSTEM. 

Typical  Shape. — In  awarding  prizes  by  comparison,  judges 
must  consider  carefully  each  and  every  section  of  the  speci- 
men, according  to  the  Scale  of  Points  and  not  allow  color 
alone,  or  any  one  or  two  sections  to  influence  their  decisions. 
The  vital  importance  of  typical  shape  is  to  be  borne  constant- 
ly in  mind,  at  the  same  time  giving  due  consideration  to  color 
in  all  sections,  including  undercolor. 

Handling. — All  specimens  in  competition  must  be  handled 
and  examined  by  the  judge,  except  those  that  show  decided 
inferiority  as  seen  in  coops. 

Disqualifying  Weights. — Specimens  falling  below  disqual- 
ifying weights  after  December  first  of  each  year  must  be  de- 
barred from  competition. 

Standard  Size. — In  determining  size,  the  judge  shall  de- 
cide by  comparing  the  specimens  in  competition  with  due  re- 
gard to  weight  in  all  varieties  of  this  breed.  When  a  bird  fails 
to  attain,  or  in  case  it  exceeds,  the  size  proportionate  with  the 
type  or  shape,  it  must  be  discounted  quite  severely. 

Color  Defects. — A  few,  very  small,  grayish  specks  in  white 
fowls  shall  not  debar  a  specimen  that  is  otherwise  sui)erior  in 
color  from  winning  over  one  less  typical  in  shape  and  sound 
in  color;  provided,  however,  that  the  gray  specks  do  not  ap- 
pear prominently  in  the  primary,  secondary  or  main  tail 
feathers. 

Scaly  Legs. — A  fowl  whose  legs  and  toes  are  so  deformed 
by  what  is  called  "Scaly  lA'gs"  as  to  hide  or  to  appear  to  have 
destroyed  the  color,  shall  not  be  awarded  a  first  prize. 

Note. — Under  the  comparison  system,  judges  must  deduct 
the  full  valuation  of  the  cuts  in  all  sections  where  a  specified 
cut  is  made  under  the  heading  of  "Cutting  for  Defects." 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  29 


CHAPTER  II. 


GENERAL   DISQUALIFICATIONS   FOR 
WYANDOTTES. 


IF.  in  applying  the  Standard  of  Perfection,  judges  find  any 
of  the  defects  descril^ed  below,  they  shall  disqualify  the 
specimen  and  state  on  the  proper  card  or  blank  the  na- 
ture of  the  disqualification  : 

Specimens  unworthy  of  a  score  or  lacking  in  breed  charac- 
teristics. 

Any  feather  or  feathers,  stubs  or  down  on  shanks,  feet  or 
toes ;  or  unmistakable  indications  of  feathers,  stubs  or  down 
having  been  plucked  from  same. 

Web  feet. 

More  or  less  than  four  toes  on  either  foot. 

Legs  or  toes  of  color  foreign  to  the  breed. 

A  wing  showing  clipped  flights  or  secondaries  or  both. 

Deformed  beaks. 

Decidedly  wry  tails. 

Crooked  backs. 

Combs  foreign  to  the  breed. 

Combs  falling  to  one  side,  or  so  large  as  to  obstruct  sight. 

A  comb  which  merely  turns  over  a  trifle  from  the  natural, 
upright  position  is  not  to  disqualify. 

Absence  of  spike. 

Entire  absence  of  main  tail  feathers. 

Decidedly  squirrel  tail.     (See  figure  17.) 

Ear-lobes  more  than  one-quarter  positive  enamel  white  or 
unmistakable  evidence  of  an  attempt  to  remove  such  defect. 

Any  appearance  of  crest  or  beard. 

A  specimen  falling  more  than  two  pounds  below  Standard 
weight. 

Faking  in  any  manner  shall  disqualify  the  specimen. 

Under  all  disqualifying  clauses,  the  specimen  shall  have 
the  benefit  of  the  doubt. 

Note. — Red  pigment  on  sides  or  back  of  shanks  is  not  to 
be  considered  a  defect. 


30 


AMERICAN   POL'LTJiY    ASISOCIATION 


CHAPTER  III. 
CUTTING  FOR  DEFECTS. 

Tl  I  KSE  cuts  should  not  be  confused  with  nor  take  prece- 
dence over  the  \aluation  given  each  section  in  the  Scale 
(jf  Points  of  all  varieties. 
Judges,  in  applying  the  score  card,  are  to  discount  for  the 
more  common  defects,  as  follows: 

Frosted  combs 3^* 

Roughness,   irregularity,  hollow  center,  over-size 

and  ill-shape  in  comb,  each  defect 14  to  2 

Rear  of  comb  turning  round )/<  to   1 

More  than  one  spike  in  rear  of  comb,  each 1 

Coarse  texture  of  comb ^2   to   1 

Gray  or  white  in  any  except  disqualifying  sections 

of  plumage  of  Partridge  Wyandottes 3,<l>t 


to   1 


to  3 


Coarse  texture  of  wattles 

Lack  of  luster  on  surface  in  Black  Wyandottes 
in  each  section  calling  for  luster ] 

For  missing  feather  or  part  of  feather  in  primaries 
or  secondaries,  where  foreign  color  disquali- 
fies      1 

Where  feather  is  broken,  but  not  detached,  in  pri- 
maries or  secondaries,  where  foreign  color 
disqualifies    y^ 

For  broken  or  missing  feather  or  feathers  in  pri- 
maries or  secondaries  of  bufT  or  parti-colored 
varieties,  where  foreign  color  does  not  dis- 
qualify          ^  to  1 

Absence  of  sickles,  where  foreign  colod  disquali- 
fies  for  each    sickle 1       to  1 J^ 

Absence  of  sickles,  where  foreign  color  does  not 
disqualify,  for  each  sickle 

Absence  of  one  or  more  main  tail  feathers  in 
varieties  subject  to  color  disqualifications, 
each    

Absence  of  one  or  more  main  tail  feathers,  when 
not  a  disqualification,  each ^ 

For  twisted   feather  or  feathers,  in   wing  or  tail 

of  any  variety    1       to  2 

Brassiness  in  all  varieties,  in  each  section  where 

found    1       to  2 

Creaminess  of  plumage  or  quill  in  White  Wyan- 
dottes, in  each  section  where  found H  to  1 1^^ 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


31 


Purple  barring  in  plumage,  in  each  section  where 

found    

Frosty  edging  in  any  laced  section,  in  each  section 

where  found  

Irregular,  indistinct,  crescentic,  or  too  heavy  lac- 
ing in   laced   sections,  in   each   section   where 

found    

Light   colored    shafting   in    Bufif   Wyandottes,    in 

each  section  where  found 

Gray   specks   in   any   part  of  plumage   of   White 

Wyandottes,  in  each  section  where  found.... 

Mealiness  in  plumage  of  Buff  Wyandottes,  in  each 

each  section  where  found 

Irregular  or  deficient  penciling  in  Silver  Penciled 
and    Partridge    Wyandottes,    in    each    section 

where  found 

Black  or  white  in  Buff  Wyandottes,  in  each  section 
where  found,  cut   from   one-half  point   to  the 
color  limit  of  the  sections. 
Slate  undercolor  in  Buff  Wyandottes,  in  each  sec- 
tion where  found 

Color  of  eyes  not  as  described  for  the   different 

varieties    

If  eye  is  destroyed,  leaving  only  the  socket 

If   eye    shows   permanent   injury,    but    retains   its 

form    

Ear  lobes  of  Wyandottes   showing   any   positive 

enamel-white 

If  tail  in  any  spec- 
imen shows  not 
to  exceed  three- 
fourths      devel- 
opment    

If  tail  in  any  speci- 
men shows  not 
to  exceed  one- 
h  a  1  f  develop- 
ment     

If  tail  in  any  speci- 
men shows  not 
to  exceed  one- 
fourth  develop- 
ment     


to  2 

M  to  1/2 

'2  to  iy2 

'2  to  13^ 

^  to  2 

1  to  1/2 

y2  to  iy2 

^  to  VA 

K  to  \y2 

y  to  1 

V2  to  2 


Figure  23. 
Tail   Carried   at  an  Angle   of  50 
Degrees. 


Crooked  breast  bone 

Crooked  toes,  each 

*To   shape  limit  tTo   color  limit. 


y  to  2 
y2  to  1 


32 


AMKItlCAX    POILTHY    ASKQCIATIOX 


(Nanu'S   of   Association,    ln-re) 


(Date;  montli,  days  and  year  show   is  held,  here) 

Official  Score  Card  of  the  American  Poultry  Association 


Exhibitor  

J  'aricty  

Entry  No Band  No. 


..Sex 

.Weight. 


Shape  Color 


Symmetry 

Weight  or  Size 

Condition  

Comb 

Head 

Beak  

Eyes  

Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes 

Neck  

Wings 

Back  

Tail  

Breast 

Body  and  Fluff 

Legs  and  Toes 

*Crest  and  Beard 

■f Shortness  of  Feather.. 


Total  Cuts Score. 


.,  Judge 


,  Secretary 

•Applies  to  Crested  Breeds.      fApplies  to  Oanus  and  Game  Bantams. 

Score  cards  may  be  obtained   from   the   Secretary  of  the 
American  Poultry  Association. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  33 


SECTION    III. 


CHAPTER  I. 
STANDARD  MEASUREMENTS. 

THE  term  "Standard  Measurements"  refers  to  the  rela- 
tive size  of  the  different  parts  of  a  fowl  and  not  to  any 
definite  mathematical  statement  of  length,  width  or  cir- 
cumference, as  no  such  definite  standards  have  ever  been  es- 
tablished. This  may  be  done  some  time,  but  for  the  present 
the  breeders'  sole  guide  in  determining  the  correct  measure- 
ment of  sections  must  be  the  eye,  trained  to  observe  correct 
proportions  between  the  diff'erent  body  parts.  These  propor- 
tions are  established  by  the  American  Standard  of  Perfection, 
and  the  inexperienced  beginner  and  the  expert  judge  alike 
must  form  their  estimate  of  the  degree  to  which  a  given  sec- 
tion of  any  individual  fowl  corresponds  to  the  ideal  by  a  care- 
ful study  of  such  sections  in  comparison  with  Standard  ideal 
illustrations  and  Standard  descriptions  of  that  breed  and  sex. 

The  person  who  is  accustomed  to  thinking  of  animal  meas- 
urements as  being  determined  by  the  use  of  tape,  ruler  or 
calipers  may  find  it  a  little  difficult  to  accustom  himself  to 
regarding  the  soft,  pliable  surface  of  a  fowl's  plumage  as 
forming  the  final  outline  of  practically  all  its  parts.  For  the 
purpose  of  judging,  however,  such  outlines  are  as  distinct 
and  final  as  solid  flesh,  assuming,  of  course,  that  the  plumage 
is  in  its  natural  orderly  arrangement. 

It  should  be  clearly  understood  that  the  use  of  the  terms 
"broad,"  "long,"  "moderately  long."  "short,"  etc.,  does  not 
in  any  case  involve  comparison  with  other  breeds  of  fowls. 
In  all  instances,  they  refer  to  comparisons  between  the  dif- 
ferent sections  of  the  bird  under  consideration,  and  with  the 
Standard  illustration  of  the  ideal  bird  of  the  same  breed 
and  sex. 

For  example,  the  head  of  the  Standard  Wyandotte  male 
is  described  as  "short,  round,  broad."  This  does  not  mean 
that  it  is  short  and  broad  as  compared  with  the  head  of  a 
Leghorn,  on  the  one  hand,  or  a  Brahma  on  the  other,  but  it 


34  AMKRICAX   POULTRY  ASSOCIATIOX 

means  short  and  broad  when  compared  with  other  sections 
of  the  same  bird.  The  Standard  could  have  specified  a  small, 
delicate,  finely  cut  head  for  the  Wyandotte  male,  or  one 
that  would  be  distinctly  large.  What  it  actually  has  done, 
however,  is  call  for  a  head  "short,  round,  broad" — short  and 
broad  when  compared  with  other  parts  or  sections  of  the  bird. 
The  Standard  goes  farther  and  exactly  illustrates  the  correct 
])rop()rti()n  in  the  cuts  on  page  12  and  the  following  pages,  so 
that  the  breeder  may  liave  at  hand  an  exact  "pattern"  for 
C()m])arison. 

The  head  of  any  in<li\idual  Wyandotte  male,  therefore, 
api)roximates  correct  size  just  in  pro])ortion  as  it  conforms 
to  the  development  indicated.  And  the  same  principle  ap- 
plies to  all  other  ])arts  or  sections  of  Standard-bred  fowls. 

The  full  page  illustrations  show  ideal  profiles  of  males  and 
females  of  all  the  dififerent  varieties  of  W^yandottes  and  else- 
where in  the  book  will  be  found  illustrations  showing  the 
proportions  of  such  other  parts  as  cannot  be  exactly  shown 
in  the  profiles.  The  beginner  who  makes  a  careful  study  of 
these  illustrations  will  at  no  time  lia\e  to  go  outside  of  this 
book  to  determine  what  is  meant  bv  anv  term  relating  to  pro- 
portion.     (II.  W.  J.) 


CHAPTER  II. 

COLOR  TERMS. 

Pnri/rm'MI'A'  generally  lia\e  found  it  (|uite  difficult  to 
agree  upon  exact  sliadi's  of  color  for  different  breeds 
and  \arieties  of  fowls  and  more  or  less  confusion  has  al- 
ways existed  on  this  point.  (  )ne  reason  for  this  is  the  great 
variety  of  possible  shades  in  all  colors.  The  Standard  Dic- 
tionary, for  exami)le,  recognizes  over  one  hundred  and  sixty 
kinds  of  "red"  and  over  one  hundred  kinds  of  "l)lack,"  with  a 
similar  range  in  other  colors.  The  situation  is  further  com- 
I  licated  by  the  fact  that  no  exact  definitions  of  color  terms 
exist  that  enable  one  to  determine  with  any  certainty  the  i)re- 
cise  shade  of  color  .specified  in  any  given  instance.  Neither 
has  it  been  found  ])ractical)le  to  ])roduce  a  color  chart  that  can 
be  used  with  any  degree  of  certainty.  It  is  undtiubtedly  true, 
in  the  case  of  all  colors,  that  the  true  and  exact  shades  can  be 
learned  only  by  observation. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  35 

In  the  Glossary,  on  pages  14  to  25,  and  in  matter  de- 
scriptive of  the  different  varieties  of  Wyandottes,  colors 
have  been  defined  as  accurately  as  can  be  done  in  a  few 
words  and  it  is  hoped  that  the  reader  will,  from  these  de- 
scriptions, be  able  to  form  a  fairly  accurate  idea  of  the  colors 
called  for  in  these  varieties.  In  addition  to  these  brief  defini- 
tions, however,  the  following  explanations  of  color  terms  ap- 
plied to  Wyandottes  doubtless  will  prove  helpful  to  many. 

Golden-Bay. — Golden-bay  is  found  in  the  feathers  of  typical 
Wyandotte.  It  is  a  lighter  shade  than  the  bay  of  the  eyes  and 
has  a  distinct  yellowish  tint. 

Reddish-Bay. — This  color  is  called  for  in  the  eyes  of  all 
Wyandottes  and.  as  a  rule,  is  a  distinct  red,  but  with  a 
brownish  tinge.  Bay  in  fowls'  eyes  varies  from  light  to  dark, 
but  the  ideal  is  medium  in  shade. 

Black, — In  all  varieties  of  Wyandottes,  black  means  either 
a  greenish-black,  that  is,  a  solid  black  with  a  greenish  sheen, 
or  a  dull,  intense  black. 

Green.— Green  does  not  exist  as  a  positive  color  in  the 
feathers  of  fowls,  but  is  produced  by  the  structure  of  the 
feather,  the  parts  of  which  set  somewhat  like  prisms,  thus 
producing  an  iridescent  effect  which  in  black  feathers  of  a 
certain  character  gives  a  brilliant  green  sheen.  Under  some 
conditions  this  sheen  gives  a  purplish  effect,  which  is  highly 
objectionable  in  Wyandottes. 

Brown. — Brown  and  mahogany  should  be  considered  to- 
gether to  get  a  clear  understanding  of  these  closely  related 
colors.  Brown  is  composed  of  red,  yellow  and  black,  giving 
a  color  darker  and  more  somber  than  bay  and,  in  fowls,  shows 
little  red.  Mahogany  also  is  formed  of  red,  yellow  and  black, 
but  describes  a  color  verging  on  chestnut,  though  lighter  in 
tone,  i.  e.,  containing  a  little  more  red  and  yellow.  Mahogany 
closely  approximates  the  color  of  chestnuts  when  first  taken 
from  the  burr  and  is  lighter  and  redder  than  the  color  of 
chestnuts  as  ordinarily  sold  in  market. 

Buff. — A  yellow-toned  brown,  that  is,  a  yellow  darkened 
with  red  and  black.  Different  shades  of  buff  are  found,  rang- 
ing from  lemon  buff  to  a  distinct  reddish-yellow.  Bearing  in 
mind  that  yellow  is  the  color  of  gold,  the  "rich,  golden  buff" 
called  for  by  the  Standard  must  be  understood  to  be  a  golden 
yellow. 

Gray.-^This  color,  as  applied  to  Wyandottes  is  used 
chiefly  in  connection  with  the  appearance  of  objectionable  dark 


36  AMERICAX   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

markings  in  feathers  that  should  be  clear  white  or  other  color. 
Gray  is  a  black  reduced  with  white  until  it  is  of  a  dull,  neutral 
shade.  Black  as  a  disqualification  or  defect  must  be  "positive" 
black,  that  is,  unmodified  by  white. 

Purple.^ — As  applied  to  the  black  feathers  of  fowls  usually 
appears  in  the  form  of  barring,  and  is  commonly  supposed  to 
be  indicative  of  "too  much  luster."  Both  purple  and  green 
ai)parently  are  produced  by  the  reflection  of  light  from  pris- 
matic black  feathers.  The  exact  reason  why  some  feathers 
show  green  shades  and  some  purple  is  not  clearly  understood. 
It  is  probable  that  the  purple  is  due  to  a  reddish  element, 
which  tends  to  crop  out  as  a  result  of  poor  breeding. 

Red.^ — ^This  is  supposed  to  be  the  original  color  of  fowls, 
and  in  crosses  or  in  careless  breeding  is  liable  to  appear  at  any 
time.  Fowls  of  all  colors,  apparently,  carry  red  as  a  lateni 
color  factor.  Red  in  WHiite  or  Black  Wyandottes  is  a  dis- 
qualifying defect. 

White.— Pure  white  is  a  dead  white,  without  any  other 
shade,  though,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  what  passes  for  a  pure 
white  has  a  bluish  tinge,  as  a  rule.  It  is  common  knowledge 
that  the  "whitest"  white  fowls  are  very  apt  to  have  some 
feathers  with  a  light  flecking  of  gray  where  the  black  pigment, 
which  gives  the  bluish  tint,  has  become  too  conspicuous. 

Silvery  white  is  pure  white  with  a  sheen,  as  often  seen  in 
the  hackle  and  saddle  feathers  of  male  Silver  Penciled 
Wyandottes. 

Yellow. — This  is  the  color  of  beaks,  shanks  and  feet  in 
most  varieties  of  Wyandottes,  which  are  clear,  rich  yel- 
low, closely  approaching  lemon-yellow.  Yellow  also  is  an 
important  color  in  the  plumage  of  fowls,  though  it  ne\  er  ap- 
pears there  as  a  pure  color- — being  modified  in  all  cases  by  reds 
and  blacks,  thus  producing  buff,  bay  and  brown  shades  of 
varying  degrees  of  intensity.     (H.  W.  J.) 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  37 

SCALE  OF  POINTS 
FOR  JUDGING  WYANDOTTES. 

All  Standard  Varieties 

Silver  Wyandottes 

Golden  Wyandottes 

White  Wyandottes 

Buff  Wyandottes 

Silver-Penciled  Wyandottes 

Partridge  Wyandottes 

Columbian  Wyandottes 

Black  Wyandottes 


Symmetry 4 

Weight    4 

Condition    4 

Comb  8 

Head  —  Shape  2,  Color  2 4 

Beak  —  Shape  2,  Color  2 4 

Eyes  —  Shape  2,  Color  2 4 

Wattles  and  Ear-lobes  —  Shape  2,  Color  2 4 

Neck  —  Shape  4,  Color  6 10 

Wings  —  Shape  4,  Color  6 10 

Back  —  Shape  5,  Color  5 10 

Tail  —  Shape  5,  Color  5 10 

Breast  —  Shape  5,  Color  5 10 

Body  and  Fluff  —  Shape  5,  Color  3 8 

Legs  and  Toes  —  Shape  3,  Color  3 6 

100 


PART  TWO 
Successive   Stages   of   Development   in   Domestic   Fowls. 


SECTION  I. 
Chapter    I — Origin    and    Development  of    Domestic    Fowls. 


SECTION  II. 
Breeding  of  Domestic  Fowls. 


Chapter  I — General  Principles  of  Breeding  Domestic  Fowls. 


Chapter  II — Principles  of  Breeding,  from  a  Poultryman's 
Standpoint. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  39 


SECTION     I. 


CHAPTER  I. 

ORIGIN  AND  DEVELOPMENT  OF  DOMESTIC 
FOWLS. 

THE  ORIGIN  OF  FOWLS  is  a  subject  in  which  the  orni- 
thologist is  much  more  deeply  interested  than  the  practical 
poultryman,  the  breeder,  or  even  the  ardent  fancier ;  and, 
it  is  a  topic  that  he  alone  is  competent  to  discuss.  The  ac- 
counts that  we  find  in  the  best  poultry  works  vary  consider- 
ably. Hence,  we  say  that  it  is  a  subject  upon  which  the 
student  of  ornithology,  alone,  is  qualified  to  pass  judgment. 

The  origin  of  domestic  fowls  is  generally  attributed  to  the 
Gallus  bankiva,  or  ferrugineus,  commonly  called  the  Jungle 
Fowl  of  India,  which  some  claim  are  still  to  be  seen  there. 
Specimens  claimed  to  be  such  were  exhibited  at  the  Madison 
Square  Garden  Show,  New  York,  not  more  than  ten  or  possi- 
bly fifteen  years  ago.  These  specimens  bore  a  close  resem- 
blance to  the  illustrations  of  the  Jungle  Fowl  which  we  find  in 
poultry  books  published  about  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  On  the  other  hand,  it  does  not  require  a  great  stretch 
of  the  imagination  to  see  them  as  the  result  of  a  cross  between 
a  Black-Red  Game  Bantam  and  a  Brown  Leghorn.  In  fact, 
they  looked  like  a  somewhat  overgrown  specimen  of  the  for- 
mer, while  the  plumage  resembled  that  of  the  latter  when 
unscientifically  bred. 

Variation  in  Early  Types. — Some  authorities  maintain  that 
birds  varying  in  type  as  widely  as  do  dififerent  breeds  of  our 
domestic  fowls,  as  for  instance  the  Game  Bantam  and  the 
Brahma,  or  the  Cochin  and  the  Game,  could  not  have  been  pro- 
duced from  one  species,  and  that  our  present  day  domestic 
fowls  must  trace  their  origin  back  to  at  least  two  sources. 

Edward  Brown,  in  Races  of  Domestic  Poultry,  points 
out  the  fact  that  naturalists  as  a  rule  for  a  time  accepted  the 
Darwin  theory,  that  all  races  of  our  domestic  fowls  were  de- 
scendants of  the  Gallus  ferrugineus,  the  Jungle  Fowl  of  India, 
while  poultrymen  as  a  rule  refuted  this  and  accepted  the  theory 


40  AM  ERIC  AX   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

first  advanced  by  Lewis  Wright,  that  it  was  improbable  that 
several  of  our  breeds,  particularly  those  we  obtained  from 
China,  were  descendants  of  the  (lallus  ferrugineiis.  If  so.  we 
must  go  farther  back  to  find  the  common  ancestry. 

W.  G.  Tegetmeir,  who,  according  to  Brown,  was  associated 
with  the  great  Darwin  in  his  research  work,  to(jk  the  view 
that  while  a  large  part  of  our  present  day  domestic  fowls  could 
trace  their  ancestry  back  to  the  (iallus  bankiva,  it  was  more 
than  improbable  that  fowls  of  certain  types,  such  as  the  Brah- 
ma and  Cochin,  could  also.  These,  in  his  opinion,  which  he  cites 
apparently  after  years  of  research  and  study,  must  have  de- 
scended from  a  different  branch  of  the  genus,  either  now 
extinct  or  modified  to  such  an  extent  that  it  is  classed  with 
some  other  species  of  the  Gallus  family.  This,  of  course, 
means  that  we  must  go  back  of  the  Gallus  bankiva  to  find  the 
common  ancestry. 

Brown,  in  the  excellent  work  mentioned  heretofore,  gives 
the  sum  and  substance  of  our  knowledge  at  the  present  time  in 
the  following  paragraph  : 

"To  sum  up,  therefore,  it  may  be  taken  that  with  the  do- 
mestic fowl,  as  with  many  other  natural  forms  of  life,  we  can 
go  so  far  back,  but  no  further.  The  probability  is  that,  as  in 
the  case  of  dogs,  all  the  varieties  of  fowls  do  not  owe  their 
origin  to  any  one  species,  at  any  rate  of  those  now  extant,  and 
that  we  must  look  to  another  progenitor  than  the  G.  ferru- 
gineus  (bankiva)  for  several  of  the  later  introduced  races, 
more  especially  those  from   China." 

Incentives  to  Poultry  Keeping. — While  we  have  fanciers 
and  breeders  of  Standard  fowls  among  us  by  the  thousands 
that  are  engaged  in  this  work  purely  for  the  pleasure  that 
they  derive  from  it,  the  income  therefrom  or,  more  directly, 
the  food  supply  derived  is  the  great  incentive  to  poultry  keep- 
ing with  a  very  large  majority.  Nevertheless,  all  of  the  avail- 
able accounts  of  ancient  literature  indicate,  and  the  probabil- 
ities are  that  the  love  of  sport  first  induced  the  natives  of 
India,  in  which  country  fowls  were  first  found,  to  domesticate 
wild  fowls;  and  to  obtain  specimens  better  endowed  physically 
for  cock  fighting,  a  sport  that  has  been  the  natives'  leading 
amusement  until  the  present  time,  they  bred  fowls  after  their 
own  selection. 

Introduced  into  Europe. — Starting  in  India,  the  keeping  of 
fowls  with  civilization  crept  westward  through  Asia  and 
Europe  into  Italy,  Spain,  France,  Belgium  and  England.     Be- 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  41 

sides  their  indebtedness  to  the  fowls  that  developed  from  this 
early  introduction,  the  European  countries,  England  especially, 
owe  much  to  the  importations  during  modern  times.  Many 
of  the  fowls  that  were  obtained  from  China  early  in  the  nine- 
teenth century  were  of  widely  different  types  from  those  that 
migrated  through  Western  Asia  and  Eastern  Europe  some 
centuries  before. 

First  Authentic  Accounts. — Exact  information  upon  poultry 
topics  is  exceedingly  meager  until  within  the  last  one  hundred 
years  or  so.  Almost  nothing  of  the  methods  employed  in  keep- 
ing flocks  or  of  the  description  of  the  breeds  is  found  up  to  the 
early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century,  and  it  is  about  the  middle 
of  this  century  before  anything  satisfactory  is  found  upon 
either  topic.  We  are  obliged,  therefore,  to  draw  most  of  our 
conclusions  concerning  the  evolution  and  transition  in  both, 
partly  from  the  evidence  supplied  by  the  accumulative  results 
of  which  we  are  the  eye  witnesses,  partly  from  such  literature 
of  the  transitory  periods  as  is  available,  and  somewhat  from 
the  information  given  by  our  veteran  associates. 

Types — Geographical. — The  English  and  French  have  been 
particularly  zealous  in  developing  splendid  breeds  of  fowls 
which  have  a  leaning  toward  a  fine  meat  carcass  rather  than 
to  heavy  egg  production.  The  Spaniards,  Italians,  and  Hol- 
landers have  paid  more  attention  to  egg-producing  qualities. 
The  Asiatic  races  produced  the  largest  and  most  magnificent 
of  all  fowls,  which  were  also  the  most  pronounced  meat  types. 

Early  American  Importations. — Comparatively  early  in  the 
life  of  the  nation,  Americans  adopted  many  foreign  breeds. 
About  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth  century,  especially  a  little 
later,  the  large  Asiatic  breeds  found  much  favor  with  poultry 
keepers  in  this  country.  Their  influence  upon  breeds  that  orig- 
inated here  is  incalculable.  The  late  Mark  Pitman,  a  former 
resident  of  Salem,  Massachusetts,  once  related  to  the  writer 
some  interesting  facts  about  these  importations.  From  this 
account  it  appeared  that  many  of  them  were  not  undertaken 
for  the  purpose  of  acquiring  new  blood  or  new  breeds  for  the 
American  poultrymen,  but  for  no  higher  motives  than  to  pro- 
vide fresh  meat  from  time  to  time  for  the  shipmaster's  table. 
Those  fowls  that  reached  America  alive  owed  their  survival 
to  their  lean  condition  as,  unfortunately,  the  best  were 
usually  the  first  choice,  and  the  poorest,  because  confined  on 
shipboard,  became  eventually  so  poor  that  they  were  unfit  for 
the  table  and  survived  the  entire  journey  to  become  the  pro- 


42  AMlJh'lCAX   POULTIiV   ASSUCIATJOX 

genitors  of  new  races  or  strains.  This  information  enables  us 
to  understand  why  so  few  of  the  importations  became  estab- 
lished and  why  so  many  failed  to  perpetuate  themselves. 

English  Types  in  America. —  l'',nglish  importations  have 
been  frequent  all  along  since  the  middle  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  The  English  developed  a  few  breeds  that  were  ex- 
ceedingly popular  during  the  early  days  of  modern  American 
pmiltry  keeping.  W'ith  the  advent  of  purely  American  breeds, 
however,  the  popularity  of  these  breeds  rapidly  declined.  The 
English  breeds  of  today  most  commonly  kept  here  are  of  later 
origin  and  partake  more  of  the  nature  of  the  American  breeds. 

American  Types. — That  the  people  of  some  nations  seemed 
intent  upon  producing  breeds  that  excelled  in  egg  production, 
while  others  were  equally  zealous  in  their  endeavors  to  pro- 
duce  breeds  that  surpassed  in  the  quality  of  their  flesh,  has 
already  been  pointed  out.  Americans,  however,  were  never 
content  in  attempting  to  excel  in  but  a  single  quality.  It  is  a 
noteworthy  fact  that  all  our  American  breeds  are  the  result  of 
attempts  on  the  part  of  one  or  more  breeders  to  make  a  cross, 
or  a  series  of  crosses,  that  would  establish  a  new  breed  which 
excelled  all  those  that  had  preceded  it  for  egg  production,  for 
quality  of  flesh,  and  for  quantity  of  flesh  compared  to  ofTal. 

A  study  of  the  history  of  the  recognized  American  breeds 
will  confirm  these  statements.  Their  names  alone  will  estab- 
lish the  fact  that  American  endeavor  has  been  extended  wholly 
aU)ng  dual-purpose  lines.     (A.  C.  S.) 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  43 


SECTION    II. 


CHAPTER  I. 

BREEDING  DOMESTIC  FOWLS. 

HE  advancement,  as  heretofore  related,  has  been  an  ac- 
compHshment  of  the  "breeder's  art,"  which  consists 
of  many  methods  and  systems  of  selection  and  mating. 

Mating — By  Natural  Selection. — Prompted  by  natural  in- 
stincts to  reproduce  and  perpetuate  the  species,  fowls,  in  the 
wild  state,  themselves  choose  mates  of  the  opposite  sex  as  they 
will  in  domestication,  if  allowed  to  do  so.  What  attributes  or 
caprice  influences  this  selection  is  as  yet  undiscovered  by  the 
closest  students  of  the  life  and  habits  of  either  domesticated 
or  wild  fowls.  Yet,  it  does  seem  that  the  more  magnificent 
and  lordly  males  are  always  surrounded  by  a  flock  of  admir- 
ing and  obedient  females.  If  this  is  the  true  situation,  it  is 
then  a  wise  natural  provision,  because  it  means  that  the  strong- 
est, most  rugged  and  vital  of  the  males  become  the  consorts  of 
the  females  to  the  exclusion  of  the  weaker.  The  doctrine  of 
survival  of  the  fittest,  then,  has  a  wide  reaching  influence ; 
inasmuch  as  each  male  consorts  with  several  females  compara- 
tively few  males  are  necessary,  and  only  the  most  select  as  to 
physical  fitness  have  an  influence  upon  the  progeny. 

The  inclination  of  the  male  to  gather  about  him  a  half- 
dozen,  a  dozen,  or  a  score  of  females  is,  from  an  economic 
standpoint,  a  lasting  advantage ;  not  so  much  because  so  few 
males  have  to  be  kept,  but  because  it  is  necessary  to  permit 
only  the  males  that  are  best  from  the  breeders'  standpoint, 
whether  it  be  for  size,  egg-producing,  lineage  or  brilliant  plu- 
mage, in  the  breeding  yards. 

Artificial  Selection. — Promiscuous  matings  are  no  longer  a 
feature  of  our  well-conducted,  modern  poultry  establishments, 
large  or  small.  The  intelligent  poultryman  must  supply  a 
product  that  measures  up  to  a  certain  "standard."  Whether 
that  "standard"  demands  a  certain  number  of  eggs  a  year  per 
hen,  or  eggs  of  a  certain  color,  or  size,  or  weight;  a  fowl  that 
produces  a  given  number  of  pounds  of  flesh  in  a  given  time, 


44  AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

or  one  that  develops  feathers  that  grow  backwards,  is  immate- 
rial. Only  those  males  and  females  that  excel  in  the  charac- 
teristics demanded  by  this  particular  "standard"  are  used  to 
perpetuate  that  particular  race  or  kind  of  fowl,  because  those, 
and  only  those  that  excel  in  the  characteristics  demanded, 
will  reproduce  them  in  the  greatest  measure. 

Systems. — In  order  to  reach  their  goal,  whatever  that  may 
be,  breeders  of  all  kinds  of  poultry,  for  any  and  all  purposes, 
long  ago  adopted  methods  that  were  sure  to  prevent  their  birds 
mating  by  natural  selection  and  substituted  selections  of  their 
own.  This  has  led  to  different  systems  of  matings.  At  first 
these  were  very  simple,  but  the  longer  the  fowls  were  studied 
the  more  exacting  standards  became ;  and  the  deeper  breeding 
problems  were  probed  the  more  complicated  they  seemed,  so 
in  time  the  system  of  mating  became  more  or  less  complex, 
until  now,  in  some  cases,  the  system  itself,  though  simple  in 
theory,  is  such  that  the  application  becomes  most  complicated. 
There  are  instances,  however,  when  the  system  of  mating, 
though  seemingly  complicated,  is  very  simple  of  application. 
In  several  well  known  instances,  the  system  that  is  the  sim- 
plest and  clearest  to  understand  becomes  the  most  difficult  to 
practice  successfully,  while  the  one  that  is  more  complicated, 
theoretically,  is  found  to  be  more  easily  applied  and  more  cei- 
tain  of  results. 

Single  Matings. — In  the  beginning,  whether  mating  for 
egg  production,  large  size,  or  certain  excellencies  in  plumage, 
real  or  imaginary,  the  breeder  selected  for  his  matings  the 
specimens  of  both  sexes  that  nearest  approached  his  ideals. 
This  constitutes  what  is  now  known  as  a  single  mating.  That 
is,  a  single  mating  is  one  in  which  both  sexes  conform  more  or 
less  closely  to  a  certain  ideal  or  standard ;  each  sex  of  the 
progeny  of  such  a  mating  is  also  expected  to  conform  more  or 
less  closely  to  the  requirements  of  such  an  ideal  or  standard. 
Under  the  American  Standard  of  Perfection,  a  single  mating 
consists  of  a  male  and  females  that  conform  to  a  certain  degree 
of  approximation,  at  least,  to  requirements  for  that  breed  and 
variety,  as  described  and  portrayed  in  the  afore-named  .Stand- 
ard. As  tw^o  females  alike  in  all  respects  have  never  been  pro- 
duced, a  strict  definition  of  an  ideal  single  mating  would  be 
— a  mating  consisting  of  a  male  and  females  conforming  to  the 
requirements  of  the  Standard  of  Perfection,  and  the  ideal  re- 
sults from  an  ideal  single  mating  would  be  sons  like  the  sire 
and  daughters  like  the  dam.   In  other  words,  both  the  parents 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  45 

and  their  progeny  would  be  ideal  specimens,  judged  according 
to  the  Standard  of  Perfection.  Of  course,  ideal  birds  never 
existed  and  undoubtedly  never  will.  Therefore,  a  practical 
definition  has  already  been  given. 

This  system  of  mating  is  almost  universally  practiced  in 
the  breeding  of  solid-colored  varieties ;  and  very  much  in  the 
breeding  of  parti-colored  varieties,  but  not  universally  so  by 
any  means. 

Intermediate  Matings. — Before  the  art  of  breeding  had  been 
practiced  long  under  the  several  Standards  that  preceded  the 
one  that  now  governs  our  breeding  operations,  it  was  discov- 
ered that  the  same  hen  that  produced  the  best  males  in  the 
parti-colored  varieties,  did  not  produce  as  a  rule  the  best 
females  when  judged  by  the  accepted  Standard.  This  discov- 
ery led  to  the  practice,  after  observing  results  from  dififerent 
individuals,  of  using  in  many  matings  females  of  different 
types  of  plumage,  some  from  which  the  best  males  and  others 
from  which  the  best  females  were  expected.  This  became  a 
common  practice.  Usually  a  small  number,  say  one,  two  or 
three  females  from  which  the  best  exhibition  males,  and  four, 
five,  six,  or  more  from  which  the  best  exhibition  females  were 
expected,  were  placed  in  each  mating.  It  is  really  a  modifica- 
tion of  both,  the  single  mating  and  double  mating  systems, 
and.  because  it  partakes  of  the  nature  of  both,  may  be  called 
an  Intermediate  System.  It  is  in  reality  an  application  of 
double  mating  principles  on  one  side  of  the  mating,  the  female, 
and  thereby  an  acknowledgement  of  the  necessity  of  double 
mating.  It  may  be  said  to  have  been  the  first  step  toward 
the  practice  of  double  mating  and  was  in  common  use  long 
before  the  adoption  of  the  double  mating  system  in  its  entirety. 
This  modification  of  the  single  mating  system  is  still  practiced 
by  those  who  breed  parti-colored  varieties,  and  who  are  op- 
posed to  the  system  to  which  allusion  has  been  made,  as 
apparently  complicated  but  of  easy  application  in  actual  prac- 
tice. 

Double  Matings. — The  double  mating  system  is  known  only 
among  breeders  of  standard-bred  poultry  because  it  is  not 
practiced  by  breeders  of  other  forms  of  animal  life.  It  may 
be  defined  as  a  system  which  employs  special  and  separate 
lines  of  fowls  and  breeding  to  produce  exhibition  males  and 
females.  That  is.  under  this  system,  the  exhibition  male  line 
only  is  used  to  produce  exhibition  males  or  with  any  expecta- 
tion of  doing  so.     The  females  of  the  male  line  as  well  as  the 


46  AMKlflCAX    POVLTRY   ASSOC fATION 

males  are  expected  to  produce  exhibition  males  and  no  exhibi- 
tion females.  The  same  principles  hold  true  for  the  exhibition 
female  line ;  both  male  and  females  of  the  exhibition  female 
line  are  expected  to  produce  exhibition  females.  The  males 
are  in  turn  used  to  breed  exhibition  females,  but  the  males 
are  not  expected  to  be  exhibition  birds,  or  to  produce  exhibition 
males.  That  is.  as  already  explained,  the  province  of  the  male 
line. 

Thoug^h  already  stated,  the  fact  should  be  emphasized  that 
this  system  of  matin*:^  is  commonly  practiced  only  l)y  breeders 
of  parti-colored  fowls.  The  conclusion  can  be  clearly  drawn 
that  separate  matinj^s  to  produce  standard  males  and  standard 
females  are  necessary  on  account  of  color  requirements.  Sel- 
dom are  separate  matin^s  used,  or  even  thought  to  be  neces- 
sary, to  produce  the  requirements  for  shape  of  either  males  or 
females.  Such  expediencies  have  been  resorted  to  very  infre- 
quently and  the  practice  has  passed  almost  entirely  out  of  use. 
It  is  generally  considered  that  the  standard  shape  of  male  and 
female  coincides  when  due  allowance  has  been  made  for 
natural  difference  in  shape  of  male  and  female.  In  this  regard 
the  experiences  and  practices  of  poultry  breeders  do  not  differ 
in  any  particular  from  those  of  breeders  of  other  animals.  The 
breeders  of  forms  of  animal  life  in  which  little  attention  is  paid 
to  color,  never  think  of.  let  alone  use,  a  special  or  separate 
line  of  breeding  for  each  sex. 

From  the  facts  as  stated,  it  appears  that  we  must  find  our 
excuse,  if  excuse  it  may  be  called  or  if  an  excuse  is  necessary, 
which  is  doubtful — better  should  we  call  it  a  necessity — for 
special  or  double  matings  to  produce  the  males  and  females 
that  nearest  approach  the  standard  descriptions  among  parti- 
colored fowls,  in  the  color  requirements  alone. 

The  first  question  that  comes  to  mind  is,  why  not  adojjt  a 
standard  description  for  males  and  females  of  the  parti-colored 
fowls  that  would  coincide,  making  due  allowances  for  the 
natural  color  dififerences  of  the  two  sexes,  as  we  have  in  shape? 

The  answer  to  this  question  is  found  in  others  like  it.  Can 
it  be  done?  When  has  it  been  accomplished?  If  a  standard 
could  be  written  in  which  the  color  description  of  both  males 
and  females  of  parti-colored  fowls  would  be  such  that  standard- 
colored  males  and  standard-colored  females,  mated  together, 
would  produce  standard-colored  males  and  standard-colored 
females,  would  breeders  and  exhibitors  be  satisfied  with  the 
appearance  of  both  sexes?     It  is  conceded  that  the  best  males 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  47 

to  produce  exhibition  females,  of  the  parti-colored  varieties, 
are  the  sons  of  the  best  exhibition  females.  Therefore,  if  we 
are  to  make  a  standard  that  will  permit  the  highest  attainments 
of  color  and  markings  in  the  females  of  parti-colored  varieties, 
we  must  describe  for  their  ideal  mates,  the  sons  of  such  fe- 
males. Do  the  sons  of  such  follow  very  closely  the  present 
standard  description,  and.  if  not.  would  an  adequate  descrip- 
tion of  the  sons  of  females  of  high  standard  quality,  as  we  find 
them,  be  acceptable  to  the  breeders  of  many  of  the  parti-col- 
ored varieties?  It  must  be  fully  taken  into  consideration  that 
an  accurate  description  of  such  must  be  accepted  as  our 
standard  ideal,  if  we  are  to  have  a  Standard  based  upon  the 
highest  ideals  of  female  plumage. 

On  the  other  hand,  if  we  accept  the  present  Standard  for 
exhibition  males  and  we  propose  to  have  a  Standard  that  is 
such  that  both  exhibition  males  and  females  can  be  bred  from 
a  standard  (single)  mating,  the  description  of  exhibition  fe- 
males in  the  (proposed)  standard  must  coincide  with  the 
description  of  the  females  that  our  best  exhibition  males  pro- 
duce, as  the  females  that  produce  our  best  exhibition  males 
are  always  the  daughters  of  our  best  exhibition  males.  There- 
fore, one  method  of  making  single  mating  feasible  would  be  to 
adopt  the  present  Standard  on  males  and  for  the  standard 
females  describe  such  females  as  the  best  exhibition  males  pro- 
duce. The  adoption  of  such  a  standard,  one  based  on  the 
present  exhibition  males  and  the  daughters  of  exhibition  males, 
would  mean  that  the  exhibition  females  as  at  present  described 
in  the  Standard  would  disappear  from  the  show  room  and  in  all 
probability  from  the  breeding  yards  as  well. 

This  might  be  one  way  of  making  successful  single  matings 
possible  ;  the  other,  as  already  pointed  out,  might  be  by  accept- 
ing the  description  of  the  standard  female  and  adopting  in 
place  of  the  present  description  of  the  standard  male,  a  descrip- 
tion of  such  males  as  the  best  standard  female  produces. 

Theoretically,  a  single  or  standard  mating  under  these 
conditions  should  produce  standard  specimens  of  both  sexes. 
The  vital  question  is  not,  however,  will  a  standard  or  single 
mating  produce  standard  chicks  of  both  sexes,  BUT — because 
it  is  the  best  specimens  that  we  seek  to  produce  for  exhibition 
purposes — the  question  most  positively  becomes,  will  the  best 
male  mated  to  the  best  female  produce  both  the  best  males  and 
the  best  females?  That  is  the  vital  question,  for  if  the  best 
male  mated  to  the  best  female  would  produce  only  the  best 


UTY  l.mFART 
^.  Cjlleee 

48  JUdERICAX   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

males — then,  in  order  to  produce  our  best  females,  we  need  a 
slig-htly  different  female  with  this  sire,  or  we  need  a  little 
different  male  with  the  dam. 

If  the  original  pair  produces  the  best  females,  but  not  the 
best  males,  the  same  fundamental  change  must  be  made  in  the 
mating-  to  produce  the  best  males.  A  different  male  with  the 
dam,  or  another  and  different  fcmak'  must  be  mated  with  the 
sire. 

But  when  two  females  that  differ  in  cither  color  or  mark- 
ings are  used  with  the  same  male,  one  intended  to  produce  the 
females  nearest  approaching  our  ideal,  and  another  to  produce 
the  male  nearest  the  ideal,  so  radical  a  departure  from  the 
principles  of  single  mating  is  incorporated  that  an  admission 
of  the  necessity  of  a  special  mating  to  produce  the  best  ideals 
of  either  sex  becomes  most  pronounced. 

To  pursue  this  line  of  thought  a  step  further — how  often 
would  a  mating  consisting  of  the  best  male  and  the  best  female 
produce  the  best  males  and  best  females  to  comply  with  any 
fixed  standard  of  color  or  markings  in  parti-colored  fowls? 
How  often  would  such  a  mating  produce  either  the  best  males 
or  females  and  how  often  would  it  produce  neither?  Much 
more  often  by  far  than  not,  it  will  produce  neither  the  best 
males  nor  the  best  females,  make  the  Standard  read  as  you 
like. 

On  the  other  hand,  under  the  present  Standard  by  using 
special  matings  for  each  sex.  it  is  known  to  be  more  than  pos- 
sible to  produce  the  best  males  by  breeding  such  to  their  own 
daughters  or  daughters  of  other  high  quality  males.  Results 
of  this  kind  have  been  accomplished  for  years  and  are  being 
accomplished  continually.  Like  results  are  being  accomplished 
in  breeding  the  best  exhibition  females  by  mating  such  to  their 
sons  or  the  sons  of  other  females  of  high  exhibition  quality. 

If  the  Standard  is  fundamentally  wrong  because  special 
matings  for  each  sex  are  necessary  to  meet  its  requirements, 
the  problem  for  solution  is  not  how  may  we  change  the  Stand- 
ard to  make  these  special  matings  unnecessary,  but  how  may 
we  make  a  Standard  so  that  its  requirements  will  not  place  a 
handicap  on  standard  matings.  and  a  premium  upon  special 
matings  for  each  sex.  The  problem  has  been  before  us  since 
the  first  Standard  was  made,  and  as  yet  no  one  has  offered 
a  solution  that  seemed  theoretically  plausible,  let  alone  being 
practically  possible.  Special  matings  have  been  producing 
the  best  specimens  all  these  years.     From  either  standpoint. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  49 

performance  or  theory,  the  argument  favors  the  product  of 
special  matings  for  each  sex. 

At  the  present  writing,  there  is  unquestionably  a  strong 
desire  on  the  part  of  breeders  and  exhibitors  generally  to  adopt 
standard  (or  single)  matings,  even  if  the  Standard  has  to  be 
modified  or  changed  in  order  to  permit  the  breeding  of  the  best 
specimens  of  both  sexes  from  one  mating.  The  object  is  to 
simplify  breeding  problems  for  beginners,  which,  in  the  esti- 
mation of  many,  would  do  much  to  popularize  a  variety.  But 
as  yet  no  one  has  suggested  a  way  to  accomplish  this  that 
inspires  the  confidence  of  his  contemporaries.  Changes  toward 
this  end  in  standard  requirements  are  accompanied  by  two 
serious  considerations  :  first,  will  such  changes,  as  it  at  first 
appears  may  tend  to  solve  the  difficulty,  be  acceptable  when 
the  result,  namely,  the  specimens  produced,  come  to  view ; 
and,  secondly,  would  such  changes  or  any  changes,  that  have 
yet  occurred  to  anyone,  place  a  premium  upon  the  progeny  of 
standard  matings  by  producing  better  specimens  thereby,  than 
can  be  produced  by  other  methods,  specifically  by  what  is 
known  as  doul^le-matings,  which  really  amounts  to  a  special 
mating  for  each  sex?  No  system  of  mating  can  long  endure 
after  breeders  find  another  way  of  producing  better  specimens. 
The  final  test  is  the  closest  conformity  to  the  Standard  require- 
ments. Who,  then,  can  compile  a  standard  that  will  so  state 
its  requirements  that  the  specimens  produced  from  standard 
(single)  matings  will  excel  those  produced  by  any  other  sys- 
tem that  man  may  devise?  The  system  that  does  that  very 
thing  will  be  most  generally  practiced  by  those  who  breed 
exhibition  birds  from  now  till  the  end  of  time. 

In-Breeding. — That  in-breeding  is  the  surest  and  quickest 
way,  if  not  the  only  way.  to  perpetuate  desired  characteristics 
is  a  generally  accepted  theory.  It  becomes,  then,  the  funda- 
mental means  of  establishing  certain  qualities  in  a  line  or  a 
strain.  The  longer  the  in-breeding  of  successive  generations 
which  possess  certain  distinctive  features  is  continued,  the 
more  fixed  these  features  become. 

Limit  of  In-Breeding. — How  long  in-breeding  may  be  con- 
tinued is  an  open  and  unsettled  question.  Obviously,  the 
number  of  generations  that  may  be  inbred  depends  upon  sev- 
eral things,  the  first  of  which  is  the  relationship  of  the  parents, 
whether  these  were  unrelated,  distantly  or  closely  related. 
Secondly,  it  depends  upon  the  stamina  of  the  original  stock, 
and  further,  or  thirdly,  upon  how  much  stamina  is  maintained 


50  AMKRICAX    POILTRY    ASSOCIATION 

by  selection,  for  it  is  possible  to  select  for  strength  and  vigor 
as  well  as  any  other  quality.  In  many  cases  stamina  is  the 
first  and  most  important  consideration  for  selection.  Usually, 
in-breeding,  if  too  long  continued,  results  in  loss  of  vitality, 
which  is  indicated  by  increased  infertility,  slower  growth, 
smaller  size,  delayed  feathering  in  the  young,  and  after  a  time 
by  weak  and  twisted  feathers  in  adults.  Tlicse  highly  unde- 
sirable qualities  appear  so  gradually  and  increase  in  intensity 
so  slowly  in  succeeding  generations  that  they  often  diminish 
the  value  of  many  a  flock  very  appreciably  before  they  are 
detected. 

Out-Crossing. — When  such  a  condition  is  found  to  exist 
the  only  remedy  is  out-crossing.  This  c<Misists.  of  course,  of 
introducing  the  blood  of  some  other  line  or  strain  into  the 
flock  ;  an  expediency  that  is  accompanied  by  danger  of  losing 
qualities  that  have  been  gained  by  several  generations,  perhaps, 
of  in-breeding.  There  are.  however,  several  modes  of  intro- 
ducing new  blood,  some  of  which  are  accompanied  by  great 
risks,  and  others  that,  though  somewhat  slower  in  operation, 
are  comparatively  safe.  New  blood  can  be  very  quickly  intro- 
duced by  using  a  male  of  an  unrelated  line.  The  effect,  as  far 
as  restoring  vitality  in  all  its  phases  is  concerned,  is  almost 
magical,  and  usually,  it  is  fully  as  efficacious  in  destroying 
the  very  characteristics  to  establish  which  in-breeding  was 
practiced  too  long.  Unless  a  male  from  a  strain  that  possesses 
very  closely  the  same  attributes  that  have  become  so  strongly 
established  in  the  first  strain  can  be  secured,  the  introduction 
of  new  blood  through  the  male,  directly,  is  experimental,  to 
say  the  least,  and  the  results  cannot  be  even  approximately 
foretold,  because  even  though  the  first  out-cross  produces 
specimens  that  are  satisfactory,  the  second  generation  is  very 
liable  to  prove  disappointing  in  breeding  prowess. 

It  is  much  safer  to  proceed  slowly  and  cautiously.  One 
safe  mode  of  out-crossing  would  be  as  follows :  a  male  of  an 
unrelated  line  (B)  may  be  bred  to  a  few  females  of  the  first 
line  (A)  and  the  female  progeny  of  this  mating  (BA)  mated 
back  to  males  of  the  first  line  (A),  and  so  on  for  as  many 
generations  as  seeui  advisalilc.  using  the  female  progeny  for 
new  blood,  until  the  results  are  satisfactory,  when  the  progeny 
may  be  rccrossed  with  the  original  line.  Iioth  ways.  Occa- 
sionally the  results  of  the  first  cross  will  be  so  pre-eminently 
satisfactory  that  males  from  this  cross  may  be  used  upon  the 
original  line,  but  only  in  case  the  results  are  most  satisfactory, 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  51 

and  even  then  it  is  better  to  guard  against  disappointment  by 
also  mating  males  of  the  original  line  to  the  females  that  are 
one-half  new  blood,  by  also  maintaining  the  original  line,  or  by 
both  methods  of  safeguarding  the  merits  of  the  original  line. 

A  method  commonly  practiced,  but  not  commonly  enough, 
which  is  the  safest  from  two  standpoints,  is  to  secure  each 
year  or  every  second  year,  a  female  from  another  strain,  mate 
her  with  a  male  of  the  strain  which  needs,  or  may  need,  an 
infusion  of  new  blood,  and  mate  the  female  progeny  with  the 
sire  or  a  male  of  the  same  line  or  same  breeding  as  the  sire. 
Both  the  males  and  females  of  this  generation  will  usually 
have  acquired  the  characteristics  of  the  original  strain  to  a 
marked  degree  and  breeders  may  be  thereafter  selected  by  the 
same  process  as  though  the  blood  was  of  one  strain. 

Strain-building. — A  breeder  often  desires  to  acquire,  per- 
haps, a  single  characteristic,  perhaps  more  than  one,  in  which 
his  strain  is  deficient.  In  order  to  do  this,  he  is  compelled  to 
secure  new  blood  from  a  strain  that  is  noted  for  the  pre- 
dominance of  the  required  characteristics.  This  may  be 
accomplished  in  the  ways  that  have  already  been  indicated, 
accompanied  by  accurate  selection  for  those  characteristics. 
If  the  acquisition  of  several  characteristics  is  desired,  because 
a  strain  is  notably  deficient  in  these  respects,  the  project  be- 
comes complicated,  and  it  may  be  necessary  to  line-breed  from 
the  best  representatives  of  one,  two,  or  more  strains. 

Line-Breeding. — Among  poultrymen  line-breeding  may 
mean  at  least  one  of  two  things.  It  mav  mean,  as  above,  the 
inter-breeding  of  two  or  more  strains  with  all  the  blood  tracing 
back  to  a  few  specimens,  usually  of  extraordinary  merit,  or 
predominating  in  the  desired  characteristics.  The  object  is  to 
amals-amate,  eventuallv,  the  blood  of  all  the  strains  employed 
until  by  perpetuating  the  desired  characteristics,  a  new  strain 
becomes  established. 

The  term  line-breeding  is  also  used  to  refer  to  in-breeding, 
as  when  the  sire  is  bred  to  his  female  progeny,  the  dam  to 
her  male  proeenv,  or  the  ofiTsoring  are  bred  together,  and 
in-breeding  amone  the  progeny  is  continued,  so  that  the  blood 
of  one  or  more  birds  reoccurs  often  in  the  ancestry  of  suc- 
cessive generations.  That  is.  when  bv  in-breeding  or  by  in- 
and-in-breedine,  a  line  is  established  based  UDon  predominating 
excellencies  of  one  or  at  the  most  two  birds,  the  desirable 
qualities  of  which  are  thereby  very  stronglv  fixed  in  the  prog- 
eny, it  is  line-breeding  with  the  number  of  the  breeding  lines 


52  AMERICAX   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

that  are  traceable  back  to  the  bird  or  the  pair  of  birds  that  laid 
the  foundation  of  the  line  depending  entirely  upon  the  number 
of  gcncratiiMis  i)ru(luccd  and  the  mode  of  breeding. 

In-Breeding  and  Line-Breeding. — The  terms  "line-breeding" 
and  "in-breeding"  are  often  confused  or  misunderstood.  From 
the  foregoing,  it  will  be  understood  that  line-breeding  may  be 
in-breeding  or  may  not.  In  case  that  the  line  is  built  upon 
the  foundation  of  the  blood  of  one  pair  of  birds,  line-breeding 
is  in-breeding.  Line-breeding  may  be  practiced  without  in- 
breeding in  its  broadest  sense  by  using  blood  of  the  same  lines 
that  is  but  distantly  related. 

In-brecding  might  be  described,  strictly,  as  the  breeding  of 
related  birds,  or  birds  that  trace  back  to  a  common  ancestor, 
but  whether  that  is  in  effect  in-breeding  or  not.  depends  en- 
tirely upon  the  closeness  of  such  relationship.  In-breeding  in 
the  mind  of  the  average  poultry  breeder  consists  in  mating  the 
parent  with  the  progeny,  or  the  j^rogeny  of  one  common  parent, 
at  least,  together. 

Injudicious  In-breeding. — There  exists,  without  a  chance 
for  denial,  a  tendency  among  poultrymen  to  inbreed  as  long  as 
the  desired  characteristics  are  maintained  ;  and,  if  the  desired 
characteristics  are  but  "hobbies"  of  the  breeder,  the  pleasure 
of  producing  these  sometimes  so  blinds  his  perceptive  faculties, 
that  he  fails  to  notice  defects  so  grave  in  character  that  they 
nullify  the  excellent  qualities  to  which  he  has  become  wedded. 
This  fault  in  such  an  instance  must  not,  however,  be  attrilnited 
to  the  systems  of  in-breeding  or  line-breeding,  but  to  the  blind- 
ness of  the  breeder  as  to  these  faults. 

Stud-Matings. — Stud  mating  or  stud  breeding  is  practiced 
sometimes  to  jjrevent  the  male  from  consorting  too  much  with 
favorites  to  the  neglect  of  the  other  females,  and  sometimes  to 
obtain  as  many  chicks  as  possible  from  a  male  of  more  than 
average  quality.  The  result  of  this  neglect,  in  the  first  in- 
stance, is  to  restrict  the  number  of  females  actually  mated, 
and  in  the  second,  is  an  unnecessarily  large  proportion  of  infer- 
tile eggs.  Stud-mating  assures  the  impartial  distribution  of 
the  male's  powers  of  reproduction.  A  larger  number  of  fe- 
males may  be  fertilized  by  the  same  male  by  following  this 
method,  which  is  to  allow  the  male  and  each  female  to  mate 
only  at  stated  intervals.  In  order  to  thus  restrict  the  number 
of  services  each  female  shall  receive,  the  males  and  females  are 
kept  separate,  and  at  given  intervals  the  females  are  placed  in 
the  male's  pen  or  yard,  one  at  a  time,  and  removed  either  imme- 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  53 

diately  after  mating,  or  when  the  next  female  is  brought  to 
the  male.  When  trapnesting  is  practiced,  it  is  handy  to  take 
the  hen  from  the  trapnest  after  laying  to  the  pen  in  which  the 
male  is  kept. 

Resting  Males. — Quite  another  method  to  increase  the  per- 
centage of  fertility  of  the  eggs  by  overcoming  the  neglect  of 
some  of  the  females  by  the  male,  is  to  use  separate  males  on 
alternate  days.  It  is  reasoned  that  with  two  males,  fewer 
females  would  be  neglected,  as  the  males  would  be  unlikely 
to  select  the  same  favorites.  However  that  idea  proves  out, 
the  common  practice  of  confining  each  male  on  alternate  days 
certainly  afifords  an  opportunity  to  rest,  and  eat  sufficient  food, 
of  which  opportunity  a  male,  more  than  probably,  does  not 
avail  himself  while  running  with  the  females.  Males,  under 
this  system,  keep  in  better  condition  physically,  and  conse- 
quently are  more  able  to  propagate  strong  and  vigorous  ofif- 
spring. 

Large  Matings. — Infertility  of  hatching  eggs,  accountable 
to  the  favoritism  of  males,  is  naturally  infrequent  in  breeding 
flocks  so  large  as  to  require  the  presence  of  several  males.  In 
this  case,  the  explanation  offered  in  the  preceding  paragraph 
remains  true. 

Individual  Disposition. — The  disposition  of  the  fowl  should 
receive  serious  consideration.  Very  often  we  see  such  individ- 
uals that  when  at  a  distance  or  unaware  of  the  fact  that  they 
are  under  observation  or  in  close  proximity  to  a  human  being 
or  any  animal  except  those  of  their  own  genus,  pose  strikingly 
and  show  splendid  form  ;  yet  when  approached,  go  all  to  pieces, 
as  the  expression  is,  which  means  that  they  become  so  fright- 
ened that  they  lose  all  style,  and  all  semblance  of  correct  shape 
disappears.  The  most  kindly  overtures  and  best  efforts  to 
accustom  these  individuals  to  the  ways  of  complete  domestica- 
tion are  wasted,  and  only  one  conclusion  is  possible,  namely, 
that  such  birds  lack  the  ordinary  intelligence  even  of  their 
order  of  animal  life.  Such  individuals  are  of  little  use  either 
in  the  show  coop  or  the  breeding  pen.  In  the  show  coop,  be- 
cause they  stand  unnaturally  and  awkwardly,  and  seem  per- 
sistently intent  upon  making  an  escape,  and  must  consequently 
show  in  poor  form ;  and  for  breeders  because  dispositions  as 
well  as  any  other  characteristics  are  transmittable  and  more 
than  that,  it  is  admitted  that  the  contented,  happy  hen  is  the 
hen  that  lays  most  frequently,  from  which  it  follows  that  these 
individuals  that  lack  contentedness  to  the  extent  of  never  being 


54  AMKIUCAX   POILTRY   ASSOCIATION 

competent  to  adjust  themselves  to  their  surroundings  are  poor 
layers  as  well  as  poor  breeders  and  show  birds. 

From  this  it  may  be  logically  inferred  that  occasionally  a 
bird  reverts  to  its  wild  ancestry  and  is  incapable  of  true  domes- 
tication. 

Mendelism''\ — Mcndelism  is  a  law  of  inheritance  discovered 
by  Gregor  Johann  Alendel  in  1808,  and  rediscovered  by  De 
Vries,  Correns  and  Tschermak  in  1900.  It  is  generally  consid- 
ered under  three  heads:  Unit  characters,  dominance,  and 
segregation.  The  important  feature  is  the  latter,  that  is,  the 
segregation  of  potential  factors  in  the  germ  cells  of  crosses  and 
their  chance  combination. 

In  animal  breeding,  absolute  purity  of  all  inherited  factors 
is  difficult  to  obtain,  as  the  parents  even  in  highly  selected 
stock  generally  differ  in  their  inheritance.  Therefore,  segre- 
gation and  recombination  invariably  occurs.  Hence  the  neces- 
sity for  constant  selection  toward  a  desired  end. 

If  the  breeding  of  fowls  involved  simply  one,  two  or  a  very 
few  characteristics,  the  application  of  Mendelian  principles 
would  be  easily  followed  and  understood,  but,  as  at  present 
practiced,  this  application  in  the  breeding  of  standard  fowls 
with  their  many  requirements  in  shape,  color  and  markings,  be- 
comes a  difficult  problem. 

However,  the  application  of  the  Mendel  law  has  had  little, 
if  any,  bearing  upon  the  accomplishments  of  breeders  of  stand- 
ard-bred fowls.  It  is  only  within  a  very  few  years  that  Men- 
delian principles  have  been  studied  in  this  connection,  and  at 
the  present  time  only  a  very  few  of  the  more  studious  and  best 
educated  fanciers  and  breeders  are  making  efforts  to  apply 
these  principles. 

However,  several  of  the  state  educational  institutions  and 
experiment  stations  are  applying  these  principles,  and  closely 
observing  and  recording  the  results.  The  most  important 
application  is  in  connection  with  the  inheritance  in  fecundity, 
the  one  feature  in  breeders  that  may  be  accurately  stated,  pos- 
sibly accurately  measured,  though  even  in  this  case,  the  influ- 
ence of  location,  environment  and  climatical  changes  from 
season  to  season,  month  to  month,  etc.,  may,  of  course,  aflfect 
the  results.     (A.  C.  S.) 


*For  a  complete  treatise  of  this  sul)ject,  the  reader  should  consult 
some  work  on  "Genetics." 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  55 


CHAPTER  II. 

PRINCIPLES  OF  BREEDING. 
FROM  POULTRYMAN'S  STANDPOINT. 

WHATEVER  progress  has  been  made  in  the  develop- 
ment of  different  races  of  fowls,  and  from  the  Jungle 
Fowl  to  nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  distinct  varie- 
ties, all  of  which  have  distinguishable  and  distinct  marks  of 
beauty,  marks  as  great  progress  as  has  been  accomplished  in 
any  branch  of  animal  breeding,  has  been  the  result  of  the  appli- 
cation of  only  a  few  elementary  and  fundamental  principles. 

"Like  Begets  Like."  Upon  this  principle  as  a  foundation 
has  rested  the  entire  structure  of  standard-bred  poultry  breed- 
ing. Coupled  together  with  another  principle  quite  as  ele- 
mentary and  possibly  quite  as  fundamental,  namely,  that 
defects  in  one  parent  may  be  corrected  by  selecting  for  the 
parent  of  the  opposite  sex  one  that  excels  in  the  same  character 
in  which  the  first  was  defective,  or  one  that  fails  in  the  same 
character  as  the  first,  but  in  the  opposite  direction,  it  is  re- 
sponsible for  the  progress  made  thus  far. 

This  amounts  to  the  following  precepts :  When  two  birds 
of  the  opposite  sex  having  like  characters  are  mated,  the  prog- 
eny will  be  like  the  parents  with  respect  to  these  like  charac- 
ters ;  when  the  characters  are  unlike  in  the  parents,  these 
characters  in  the  progeny  will  vary  between  the  extremes  ex- 
emplified by  the  parents,  with  a  tendency  for  the  greater 
number  of  the  progeny  to  show  a  mean  between  these  ex- 
tremes. Together  these  simple  rules  account  for  the  develop- 
ment of  the  different  breeds,  the  creation  of  the  new  varieties 
of  the  same  breed,  and  the  improvement  and  development  of 
those  varieties  already  established. 

Why  Like  Begets  Like. — Of  this  precept  no  fundamental 
or  scientific  explanation  can  be  offered.  It  is  accepted  as  an 
axiom  to  a  certain  extent,  though  to  the  full  extent  it  does  not, 
perhaps,  quite  conform  to  modern  theories.  It  is  as  funda- 
mentally true  in  the  breeding  of  all  other  forms  of  life  as  in 
the  breeding  of  poultry.  One  of  the  first  facts  that  any  student 
of  either  plant  or  animal  life  observes  is  that  every  seed  pro- 


56  AMKlilCAX    PUl  LTHY    AiilSOUIATIUN 

duces  after  its  kind.  The  maxim  "like  begets  like,"  then,  is 
in  a  general  way  axiomatically  proved.  In  animal  breeding, 
the  reproducting  sex  cannot  fertilize  itself,  hence  the  proof 
of  the  maxim  in  its  entirety  cannot  be  expected.  Breeders  of 
poultry  go  this  far,  however,  when  male  and  female  alike  in 
certain  particulars  are  mated  together,  that  it  is  expected  that 
the  progeny  will  be  like  the  parents  in  these  particulars.  For 
instance,  when  a  male  and  female  botii  have  a  comb  with  five 
points,  a  majority  of  the  chicks  from  the  pair  would  be  ex- 
pected to  have  five-pointed  combs.  What  deviation  did  occur 
would  be  attributed  to  the  ancestry  of  one  or  the  other,  or 
both,  of  the  parents.  Another  example,  specimens  of  the 
four-toed  variety  mated  together  produce  four-toed  varieties 
in  all  cases,  while  those  of  the  five-toed  variety  when  mated 
together  produce  five-toed  chicks  in  nearly  all  cases.  The 
same  applies  when  two  specimens  of  the  opposite  sex  with 
reddish-bay  eyes  are  mated  together.  Deviation  would  be 
accounted  for  b\-  those  of  the  ancestors  that  did  not  have 
red  eyes. 

To  Offset  Defects. — As  an  example  of  the  second  principle 
in  general  use  by  poultry  breeders  everywhere,  that  of  cor- 
recting a  defect  by  mating  with  specimens  of  the  t)pposite  sex 
that  fail  in  the  opposite  direction,  a  male  with  a  four-point 
comb,  one  point  short  of  standard  requirement,  would  be  mated 
with  a  female  with  six  points  on  her  comb,  and  vice  versa. 
If  one  of  the  mated  pair  had  light  eyes,  it  would  be  mated  to  a 
specimen  with  very  dark  reddish-bay  or  even  with  deep  red 
eyes.  A  specimen  of  a  breed  which  is  required  to  have  five 
toes  that  has  but  four  would  be  considered  so  faulty  that  it 
would  not  be  used  as  a  breeder;  it  is  a  disqualified  bird.  (See 
page  15  for  definition.)  It  is  just  as  serious  a  matter  when 
the  specimen  of  the  four-toed  variety  has  five  toes.  It  is  dis- 
carded for  the  same  reason. 

In  many  cases  this  principle  is  modified  to  the  extent  of 
mating  birds  that  are  faulty  in  certain  respects  to  the  opposite 
sex  that  are  as  near  perfection  as  it  is  possible  to  obtain. 
Faults  may  not  be  corrected  as  speedily  in  this  way  as  by  the 
other,  but  the  method  is  more  secure  in  the  long  run,  because 
it  is  better  that  the  fowls  should  inherit  one  excellent  feature 
than  two  faults,  even  though  they  be  of  opposite  tendencies. 

Pedigrees. — Broadly  speaking,  these  rules  for  mating  have 
been  very  largely  depended  upon  by  breeders  of  standard- 
bred  poultry,  whether  for  exhibition  or  commercial  purposes. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  57 

In  practice,  the  pedigrees  for  many  generations  are  also  usually- 
kept  to  help  the  breeder  in  applying  these  precepts,  especially 
of  the  male  side,  as  that  is  much  more  easily  recorded  than  the 
female  side,  though  when  a  line  of  heavy  egg-producers  are 
sought,  the  record  of  the  dam  becomes  paramount  and  is 
invariably  kept  as  it  is,  or  should  be,  in  the  female  line  when 
double  matings  are  used  to  produce  exhibition  specimens. 
Pedigrees  are  of  great  assistance,  especially  if  the  character- 
istics of  each  generation  can  be  kept  in  mind,  because  the  more 
generations  in  which  a  certain  character  appears  the  more 
fixed  this  character  becomes,  whether  it  is  meritorious  or 
defective. 

Word  descriptions,  feathers  and  photographs  of  each  sire 
and  dam  are  the  most  common  means  of  keeping  the  individ- 
uality of  each  generation  in  mind,  some  depending  upon  one 
or  two  ways,  while  others  use  all  three.  However  it  is  done, 
it  is  essential,  not  only  to  know  the  pedigree  for  several  gen- 
erations, but  it  is  equally  essential  to  have  an  accurate  recol- 
lection of  each  sire  and  dam  for  a  number  of  generations,  as 
it  is  the  only  way  to  know  how  the  line  is  producing  for  this 
or  for  that  desired  quality. 

Uniformity. — Uniformity  is  also  desired,  not  only  in  each 
breeding  pen,  but  in  the  ancestry  as  well.  The  more  the 
chicks  resemble  the  parents  and  the  parents  resemble  their 
parents,  the  greater  is  the  proportion  of  exhibition  birds  to  be 
found  in  the  flocks  year  after  year,  provided,  of  course,  that  the 
early  ancestry  was  such.  The  desire  on  the*  part  of  breeders 
has  been  to  produce  uniformity  in  their  flocks,  and  to  do  so, 
they  have  often  bred  from  single  pairs  of  birds,  though  the 
same  results  may  be  accomplished  by  keeping  a  record  of  both 
sire  and  dam,  even  though  more  than  one  female  is  allowed 
with  the  male ;  the  offspring  are  then  full  brothers  and  sisters, 
or  half-brothers  and  sisters,  and  can  be  recorded  as  such. 
By  this  method  of  mating  closely  related  individuals,  but  few 
generations  are  required  to  establish  most  uniform  flocks,  the 
quality  of  which  is,  however,  determined  largely  by  the  quality 
of  the  parent  stock  and  the  breeder's  knowledge  of  this  par- 
ticular line  of  birds,  and  his  skill  in  properly  weighing  the 
power  of  transmission  of  each  individual. 

Prepotency. — The  power,  which  it  is  admitted  some  birds 
possess  and  some  do  not,  to  transmit  their  own  characteristics 
to  their  offspring  is  called  prepotency.  In  reality,  it  may  be 
said  to  be  the  difiference  in  the  ability  or  power  to  transmit 


58  .4.U/;/i'/('.4.V    P(K  LTRY   ASSOCIATlOX 

that  exists  between  the  parents.  We  sometimes  hear  of  an 
application  difFering  slightly  from  the  above,  because  there  is 
occasionally  an  individual  that  is  S(j  very  prepotent  that  one 
or  more  of  its  prominent  characteristics  are  distinguishable  in 
the  progeny  for  several  generations.  In  such  instances,  the 
individual  that  originally  possessed  and  first  transmitted  this 
characteristic  is  often  spoken  of  as  being  very  prepotent. 

The  most  generally  accepted  theory  of  explanation  has  been 
that  by  constantly  selecting  and  breeding  specimens  with  cer- 
tain characteristics,  these  characteristics  become  fixed  in  the 
progeny,  and  after  a  certain  number  of  generations,  more  or 
less,  the  aforementioned  characteristics  are  transmitted  in  a 
remarkable  degree  by  certain  individuals. 

The  qualities  transmitted  vary.  That  is,  a  bird  may  be  pre- 
potent in  certain  characters  and  fail  to  transmit  others:  One 
bird  might  transmit  its  constitutional  vigor,  or  the  shape  of 
comb  only,  while  some  birds  impress  their  characteristics  so 
generally  and  perfectly  upon  their  offspring  that  we  note  a 
general  resemblance  to  the  parent  of  the  same  sex.  It  is  not 
uncommon  for  an  individual  of  wonderful  constitution  and 
vigor  to  throw  several  offspring  bearing  a  striking  resemblance 
to  the  parent  in  a  single  season. 

The  Value  of  Prepotency. — The  value  of  prepotency  can 
hardly  be  overestimated.  When  that  quality  is  possessed  by 
a  female  of  high  eggproducing  capacity,  its  worth  increases 
with  each  generation,  acct)r(ling  to  the  egg-producing  capacity, 
and  as  the  nuniRer  of  the  descendants  in  the  flocks  increase. 

Male  One-Half  the  Flock. — And  then,  if  the  foregoing  is 
true,  how  important  an  asset  prepotency  must  be  in  any  male 
which,  because  he  exercises  his  share  of  influence  upon  each 
and  every  female  with  which  he  mates,  is  obviously  one-half 
the  flock.  If  the  male  is  of  unusual  merit,  or  especially  if  he 
possesses  more  merit  than  the  average  of  the  females  asso- 
ciated with  him,  and  if  through  his  ability  to  transmit  his  own 
characteristics  he  exercises  such  an  influence  Uj^on  the  progeny 
that  he  becomes  more  than  one-half  of  the  flt)ck,  we  can  readily 
see  the  advantage  of  prei)otcncy  in  such  males. 

Sex  Control  of  Characters. — Breeders  generally  prize  pre- 
potency in  a  male.  Ample  explanation  has  been  offered  by 
])ointing  out  how  the  male  is  one-half  the  flock.  There  is,  too, 
the  growing  belief  that  the  male  is  responsible  for  certain 
qualities,  but  opinions  as  to  just  which  ones  differ  materially. 
Some  think  the  male  has  most  influence  upon  color  and  head 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  59 

points,  while  the  female  controls  the  shape  of  body,  etc.  But 
it  must  be  admitted  that  no  tangible  proof  of  these  various 
opinions  can  be  secured. 

Constitutional  Vigor. — That  constitutional  vigor  is  a  vital 
factor  in  all  branches  of  poultry  husbandry  will  undoubtedly 
have  been  inferred  from  several  of  the  foregoing  passages. 
The  necessity  of  that  quality  described  by  such  terms  as  health, 
vigor,  stamina,  hardiness,  ruggedness  and  several  more,  per- 
haps, is  so  generally  understood  and  recognized  that  it  requires 
little  more  than  passing  notice  here. 

It  is  also  thoroughly  understood  that  this  quality  is  just  as 
vitally  essential  in  the  yards  of  the  most  exclusive  fancier,  who 
rears  but  a  few  choice  birds  each  season,  as  on  the  farm  of  the 
commercial  breeder  who  raises  his  flock  for  the  number  of  eggs 
it  produces  or  the  number  of  pounds  of  flesh ;  the  first  cannot 
perpetuate  his  flock  to  reincarnate  the  ideals  of  his  dreams, 
the  second  cannot  produce  the  eggs  or  the  pounds  of  flesh 
without  fowls  of  rugged  constitutions,  which  must  prevail 
in  the  stock.  To  maintain  health  in  a  flock  and  to  hatch  chicks 
that  inherit  a  strong  vital  force,  weak  birds  must  not  be 
admitted  to  the  breeding  yards.  That  is,  to  maintain  constitu- 
tional vigor  in  your  flock,  select  as  breeders  those  birds  that 
possess  that  essential  quality. 

The  strongest  constitutions  may  be  undermined  by  injudi- 
cious feeding,  by  undue  exposures,  poor  sanitation  and  poor 
management  generally.  These  are  topics  taken  up  in  a  later 
chapter  in  this  work.     (A.  C.  S.) 


60 


AMl-n{lCA\    Pt/l  LTRY    ASSOCIATIOS' 
PLATE  A. 


Winners  at  English  shows,  illustrating  English  Wyandotte  type. 
Above,  1st  White  Wyandotte  cockerel,  Dairy  Show,  1911,  and  1st  White 
Wyandotte  pullet.  Dairy  Show,  1911.  Below,  1st  Silver  Wyandotte  cock- 
erel. Dairv  Show.  1911,  and  1st  Silver  Wyandotte  pullet,  Dairy  Show, 
1911.    See"  Plate  B,  page  135. 


PART  THREE 

STANDARD-BRED  WYANDOTTES. 

SECTION  I. 

Chapter  I:  General  Description  of  Wyandottes — All   Varieties. 

Chapter  II:  History  of  the  Origin  and  Development  of  Wyan- 

dottes. 
Chapter  III:  Changes  in  Type  and  Color  Since  1884. 

Chapter  IV:  Standard  Requirements  for  Shape  of  All  Varieties. 

Chapter  V:  Common  Defects  and  How  to  Overcome  Them. 

SECTION  II.    LACED  WYANDOTTES. 

Chapter  I:  Standard   Requirements   for  Color  of  Silver  Wyan- 

dottes and  Explanation  of  Laced  Color. 

Chapter  II:  Breeding  Silver  Wyandottes. 

Chapter  III:  Origin  of  Golden  Wyandottes. 

Chapter  IV:  Standard  Requirements  for  Color  of  Golden  Wyan- 

dottes. 

Chapter  V:  Breeding  Golden  Wyandottes. 

SECTION  III.    WHITE  WYANDOTTES. 

Chapter  I:  History  of  the  Origin  and  Development. 

Chapter  II:  Standard   Requirements  for   Color. 

Chapter  III:  Mating  to   Improve   the   Quality. 

SECTION  IV.     BUFF  WYANDOTTES. 
Chapter  I:  History  of  the  Origin  and  Development, 

chapter  II:  Standard  Requirements  for  Color. 

Chapter  III:  Successful  Methods  of  Breeding. 

SECTION  V.    PARTRIDGE  WYANDOTTES. 

Chapter  I:  History  of  the  Origin  and  Development. 

Chapter  II:  Standard  Requirements  for  Color. 

Chapter  III:  Single  and  Double  Mating. 

SECTION  VI.    SILVER  PENCILED  WYANDOTTES. 
Chapter  I:  History  of  the  Origin  and  Development. 

Chapter  II:  Standard   Requirements   for  Color. 

Chapter  III:  The  Mating  Problems. 

SECTION  Vn.     COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTES. 

Chapter  I:  History  of  the  Origin  and  Development. 

Chapter  II:  Standard  Requirements  for  Color. 

Chapter  III:  Breeding  Problems  Discussed. 

SECTION  VIII.     BLACK  WYANDOTTES. 
Chapter  I:  History  of  the  Origin  and  Development. 

Chapter  II:  Standard  Requirements  for  Color. 

Chapter  III:  Methods  of  Breeding. 


62  AMKIUCAN   POVLTRY   ASSOCrATION 

SECTION    I. 

CHAPTER  I. 

WYANDOTTES 

Till-".  W'YANDO'I "I'l-'S  arc  of  .\nuricaii  origin  and  were 
known  in  their  early  history  by  several  names.  Each 
section  of  the  country  where  they  were  found  seems  to 
have  had  a  name  that  was  given  by  the  1)reeder  who  first  in- 
troduced them.  They  were  known  as  Scbrights,  Mooneys. 
American  Scbrights  and  1)y  a  number  of  names  which  their 
peculiar  markings  indicated.  The  name  "Wyandotte"  was  not 
applied  until  they  were  admitted  to  the  Standard  in  1883. 
Just  what  breeds  entered  into  the  first  Silver  Wyandottes  it 
is  impossible  to  say.  That  Dark  Brahmas  and  Silver  Spangled 
Hamburgs  were  two  of  them  has  been  proven,  as  a  cross  of 
these  two  breeds  produces  fowls  that  resemble  them,  but  fail 
in  shape  and  partly  in  color,  showing  that  some  other — [un- 
known] cross  was  added.  They  have,  since  their  admission 
to  the  Standard,  been  one  of  the  popular  middle-weight  breeds. 

In  shape  the  Wyandotte  has  a  type  peculiarly  its  own.  It 
is  emphatically  a  bird  of  curves.  Breeders  should  strive  to 
maintain  the  short,  broad  back  and  deep,  round  body ;  also,  the 
curved,  close-fitting  comb  which  adds  to  the  beauty  of  the 
specimen. 

The  wide  range  of  color  found  in  the  eight  varieties  allows 
every  admirer  to  indulge  his  fancy.  Each  variety  has  points 
of  color  difficult  to  obtain,  but,  when  obtained,  places  a  high 
valuation  on  the  specimen.  Whichever  variety  one  may 
choose,  he  will  find  interesting  color  problems  to  solve.  In 
the  Whites,  it  will  be  how  to  secure  pure  white  plumage  and 
escape  creaminess  and  brassiness :  in  the  Blacks,  how  to  ob- 
tain glossy  greenish  black,  without  the  purple  barring:  in  the 
Silvers,  how  to  obtain  silvery  hackles  and  saddles  free  from 
brassiness;  large,  oval,  white  centers  free  from  mossiness;  and 
breast  lacings  free  from  white  edgings:  in  the  Goldens.  how 
to  get  the  correct  shade  of  golden-bay,  which  in  this  variety 
supplants  the  white  of  the  Silvers:  in  the  BufTs,  how  to  secure 
an  even  shade  of  rich,  golden  bufi,   and   to  avoid  the  out- 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK 


63 


cropping-  of  black  and  white :  in  the  Partridge  and  Silver 
Penciled  varieties,  how  to  obtain  the  rich  foundation  color 
with  distinct,  clean-cut  lacings  in  the  necks  and  backs  of 
males,  with  the  fine  triple  penciling  in  females :  in  the  Colum- 
bians, how  to  keep  the  surface  of  necks,  backs  and  wing-bows 
of  males  free  from  brassiness  and  secure  distinct  lacings  in 
necks,  with  black  tails,  laced  coverts  and  black  and  white 
wings  in  males  and  females. 


FIGURE  24. 


AMERICAN  SEBRIGHTS. 


This  illustration,  executed  by  B.  N.  Pierce  in  1874,  was  the  first  to 
present  the  completed  type  of  the  new  breed  which  finally  became  known 
as  the  Wyandotte. 


64  A^fERICAX   POVLTRY   ASiBOCIATIOS 


CHAPTER  II. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  ORIGIN  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 

Tl  IR  AMERICAN  Standard  of  Perfection  defines  a  breed 
as  follows:  "A  race  of  fowls,  the  members  of  which 
maintain  distinctive  shape  characteristics  that  thev  jios- 
sess  in  common.  Breed  is  a  broader  term  than  variety.  Breed 
includes  varieties,  as,  for  example,  the  Silver.  White.  BufT, 
Black.  Partridg^e.  Silver-Penciled  and  Columbian  varieties  of 
the  Wyandotte  breed." 

The  origin  of  the  Silver  Wyandotte,  founder  of  the  great 
and  popular  Wyandotte  breed  of  today,  is  shrouded  in  mys- 
tery. When  and  where,  and  by  whom  it  was  first  produced, 
no  absolute,  authentic  records  exist  which  will  clear  up  the 
latter  satisfactorily  to  close  students  of  poultry  history.  In 
the  vast  amount  of  historical  data  at  hand,  relating  to  the 
origin  and  history  of  the  breed,  we  fail  to  find  anything  of  a 
convincing  nature  to  warrant  us  in  making  an  unqualified 
statement  as  to  who  the  real  originator  was  and  how  he  made 
the  breed.  But  after  it  appeared  in  several  places  in  New 
York  State  and  in  New  England,  earnest  poultry  fanciers  took 
hold  of  a  promising  new  feathered  creation  and  made  a  breed 
of  it.  Among  the  pioneer  breeders  were  Fred  A.  Houdlette, 
Waltham.  Mass..  Geo.  F.  Hull.  Lebanon.  N.  Y..  and  the  late 
L.  Whittaker,  North  Adams,  Mich.  They  refined  the  crude 
Sebright  Cochin,  claimed  to  have  been  originated  by  the  late 
John  P.  Ray,  Honeoye,  N  .Y.  (who  later  lived  at  Hemlock, 
N.  Y.),  into  the  American  Sebright  which  became  the  .Sjlver- 
LacedWvandotte  of  the  Standard  of  Excellence  in   1884. 

In  1891  he  wrote  to  J.  Y.  Bicknell,  Bufifalo,  N.  Y..  a  prom- 
inent judge  and  experienced  breeder  of  Standard-bred  jwultry. 
for  information  relating  to  the  origin  of  Silver  Wyandottes. 
and  received  the  following  reply : 

"The  same  old  theory  regard-'ng  the  origin  of  Wyandottes  as  has 
been  going  the  rounds  for  several  years,  viz.,  that  they  were  produced 
by  a  cross  between  a  Dark  Brahma  and  a  Silver  Spangled  Hamlnirg.  Pos- 
sibly this  is  the  case,  but  all  efforts  to  trace  their  origin  have  been  wholly 
fruitless.  All  the  evidence  we  have  is  circumstantial :  all  guesswork. 
Repeated  efforts  have  been  made  to  find  the  fountain  head,  but  all  in  vain. 

"As  long  ago  as  the  year  1868  a  neighbor  of  mine  residing  in  Oneida 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  65 

county,  where  I  then  Hved,  bred  them,  and  at  that  time  I  made  an  eflfort 
to  trace  their  origin,  and  every  line  that  I  followed  became  obliterated 
before  I  found  its  source.  The  last  man  always  said:  'I  don't  know 
anything  about  it.'  And  this  is  the  experience  of  EVERY  ONE  of  the 
many  who  have  tried  to  solve  the  problem. 

"I  have  spent  considerable  time  on  this  question,  not  only  in  years 
long  past,  but  recently,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  this  supposed  origin  of 
the  Wyandotte  has  not  a  shadow  of  foundation  in  fact.  No  one  knows 
anything  about  it  except  what  he  sees  in  the  makeup  of  the  birds." 

As  Mr.  Bicknell  lived  in  the  locality  where  the  Wyandotte 
first  came  into  this  world,  his  statement  is  not  calculated  to 
lift  the  veil  of  mystery  stirrotinding  its  origin,  albeit  his  ref- 
erence to  the  Dark  Brahma-Silver  Spangled  Hamburg  cross  is 
significant,  as  subsequent  reversions  to  ancestral  blood  lines 
in  the  evolution  of  this  new  race  of  fowls  proved. 

We  were  of  the  opinion,  as  far  back  as  1884,  that  the  Brah- 
ma-Hamburg blood  was  used  by  the  originator  of  the  Ameri- 
can Sebright,  which  later  became  known  as  the  Wyandotte. 
This  opinion  was  based  on  the  fact  of  reversions  to  one  or  the 
other  of  the  above  mentioned  varieties  taking  place  in  one  of 
the  eastern  strains  (Silver  Laced  Wyandottes  which  we  bred 
at  Una  Farm,  Washingtonville,  N.  Y.,  at  that  time  and  the 
five  years  following),  the  large  Hamburg  rose  comb  and 
tendency  to  spangling  on  the  breast  feathers  making  their  ap- 
pearance in  the  one  case,  and  the  narrow,  stubby  comb,  duck- 
wing  and  striped-saddle  markings  of  the  Dark  JBrahma  males 
and  mossy  or  penciled  feathers  of  the  females  appearing  in 
the  other. 

Presuming  then  that  the  original  Wyandotte  is  the  result  of 
the  blending  of  the  blood  of  the  Dark  Brahma  with  that  of 
the  Silver  Spangled  Hamburg,  the  blood  of  each  being  strong, 
the  amalgamation  produced  the  inherited  qualities  of  both, 
which  cropped  otT,t  in  generations  following,  from  time  to 
time,  causing  variation  in  type  plumage  and  combs.  But  the 
intermingling  of  the  blood  of  these  two  old  established  va- 
rieties of  the  noted  Brahma  and  Hamburg  breeds,  produced 
from  the  start  a  remarkable  utility  breed,  one  that  proved  an 
extraordinary  layer  of  light,  brown-tinted  eggs  of  most  at- 
tractive appearance  and  marketable  size ;  while  the  plump, 
meaty  carcass  appealed  to  the  dealers  and  satisfied  the  palates 
of  the  consumers. 

The  American  Sebright. — The  American  Sebright  was  the 
forbear  of  the  Silver  Wyandotte,  one  point  at  least  which 
early  writers  of  Wyandotte  history  agreed  upon.     Poultry  au- 


66  AMKh'lCAy    PolLTIfY   ASS()riATlO\ 

thorities  of  the  present  day  seem  to  be  of  the  same  opinion. 
The  Sebright  Cochin,  first  bred  by  John  P.  Ray  at  Hemlock, 
New  York,  in  or  aboujt  1868,  became  known  as  the  American 
Sebright  shortly  after  that  date,  and  (jeo.  F.  Hull  of  Xew  Leb- 
anon, New  York,  in  1886  stated  that  he  obtained  his  first 
Wyandottes  (then  called  American  Sebrights)  in  1872  from 
an  aunt  residing  in  Nassau,  New  York,  who  discovered  them 
at  Sandlake.  New  York,  but  no  one  seemed  to  know  where 
they  originally  came  from.  That  painstaking  and  intelligent 
poultry  writer.  Joseph  Wallace,  made  careful  researches  into 
the  early  history  of  the  Wyandottes,  shortly  after  their  ad- 
mission to  the  Standard  of  Excellence  of  1884  and  arrived  at 
the  following  conclusions  regarding  their  origin  : 

"There  is  evidence  of  a  first  cross  from  a  Sebright  Bantam  and  a 
Buff  Cochin  hen  or  Yellow  Chittagong,  as  some  called  the  Buff  as  early  as 
1868  or  1869.  At  this  early  date  at  least  three  persons  were  breeding  this 
cross,  or  one  of  a  similar  product,  as  we  learn  from  the  correspondence 
between  a  Mr.  John  P.  Ray  of  Hemlock.  Xew  York,  and  a  Reverend  A.  S. 
Baker  of  Honeoye  Falls.  Single  and  rose  combs  appeared  from  this 
cross,  those  with  rose  combs  being  generally  l)ettcr  marked  in  plumage 
and  more  valuable  among  their  admirers.  Much  has  been  cimjectured 
about  the  object  of  the  originator,  some  asserting  that  a  Laced  Cochin 
was  in  view,  while  others  believed  that  a  medium-sized  fowl,  somewhat 
like  the  Plymouth  Rock,  was  the  ultimate  object.  Weighing  the  proba- 
bilities of  each  view,  I  am  led  to  think  that  the  originator  intended  a  breed 
to  take  the  place  of  Brahmas.  Cochins  and  Javas  for  fancy  breeding  and 
table  use.  as  the  plumage  promised  to  be  unique  and  attractive,  and  the 
size  more  desiral)le  than  that  of  the  Asiatics,  though  called  Sebright 
Cochins. 

"Some  of  Mr.  Ray's  early  stock  passed  into  the  hands  of  Messrs. 
McMillan.  Dudley.  W  hittaker  and  Hull.  Each  of  these  fanciers  made 
some  change  or  improvement  in  his  fowls.  Some  bred  rose  comb  and 
others  single  coml)  birds,  and  not  until  1876  did  the  pea  comb  become  a 
feature  of  the  new  breed.  Previous  to  this  another  cross  was  made 
between  the  Silver  Spangled  Hamburg  and  Buff  Cochin.  Seeing  that  the 
plumage  was  too  light,  the  Brahma  in  many  ways  was  found  to  be  an 
excellent  element  to  infuse  into  the  new  cross  .•\merican  Sebright 
(Sebright-Cochin).  L.  J.  Payne  of  Binghamton,  Xew  York,  was  a  breeder 
of  this  new  cross  and  advertised  his  fowls  in  the  "Poultry  World"  in  1875. 
L.  \\  hittaker  of  Xorth  Adams,  Michigan,  also  advertised  Sebright  C«ichins 
in  this  paper  at  the  .same  time,  the  following  being  a  reproduction  of 
his  ad  : 

SEBRIGHT     C  O  C  H I  X  S 
P.  CotHixs.  Br.xhmas   .\xn  Bronze  Turkeys. 
L.   WHITTAKER.   Xo.  Adams.   Mich. 

"The  breed  was  presented  to  the  American  Poultry  .^s.sociation  for 
admission  to  the  Standard,  while  the  .Association  was  in  session  at  Buffalo 
in  1876.    The  Association  recognized  the  promising  qualities  of  the  breed, 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK 


67 


but  objected  to  the  name  'American  Sebrights'  as  suggesive  of  Bantam, 
besides  several  new  features  were  engrafted  on  tlie  breed  in  the  way  of 
comb.  In  this  unsettled  state  the  Association  appointed  Mr.  Payne  chair- 
man of  a  committee  to  settle  on  comb  and  prepare  a  standard.  The 
Committee  failed  to  report,  as  they  could  not  agree  on  a  name  nor  the 
form  of  comb,  so  tiie  Ijreed  had  to  wait  until  1883." 

Sebright  Cochin  Fowls. — The  American  Rural  Home,  pub- 
lished at  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  in  its  January  4,  1873,  issue  printed 
an  ilkistration  of  a  pair  of  Sebright  Cochin  fowls  (see  Figure 
25)  accompanied  with  the  following"  descriptive  matter: 

FIGURE  25. 


SEBRIGHT  COCHINS. 

The   male  and   female   illustrated   above   present   the   earliest   type   of 
the  W'yandottes,  or  Sebright  Cochins. 


''Some  time  since  we  gave  a  notice  of  the  Sebright  Cochins,  a  new 
variety  of  fowls  which  are  attracting  considerable  attention  among  breed- 
ers in  central  New  York,  so  much  so  that  we  have  had  drawn  and 
engraved,  expressly  for  The  Rural  Home,  a  fine  specimen  of  the  breed, 
accompanying  which  we  give  the  experience  of  John  P.  Ray,  who  has 
bred  them  for  the  past  three  seasons.  We  have  a  fine  trio  of  chicks  that 
we  reared  from  eggs  sent  us  by  Mr.  Ray  during  the  past  season ;  they 
were  perfectly  hardy  and  feather-up  much  earlier  than  the  Brahmas. 
Mr.  R.  Writes  as  follows : 


68  AMERICAS   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

"  'We  now  have  been  breeding  the  Sebright  Cochins  three  seasons, 
and  our  experience  with  them  should  enable  us  to  speak  understandingly 
of  their  merits  as  a  variety.  We  shall  make  our  estimate  of  them  as  a 
fowl  for  general  purposes,  which  should  l)c  liardy.  good  layers,  of  large 
size,  and  early  maturity,  presenting  a  beautiful  and  attractive  appearance, 
suited  to  the  wants  of  the  farmers  and  amateur  breeders.  With  us  these 
fowls  have  been  entirely  hardy  and  free  from  disease.  .\s  egg  producers, 
for  both  winter  and  summer,  they  are  not  excelled  by  any  other  variety. 
They  arc  not  non-sitters,  neither  have  they  the  sitting  propensity  like  the 
Brahma.  They  are  of  medium  size  as  compared  with  the  .Asiatic  varieties. 
The  cocks  weight  from  eight  to  ton  pounds:  hens  from  six  to  seven 
pounds.  They  feather  up  at  an  early  age  and  present  a  i)lump  and  hardy 
appearance  from  the  time  they  are  hatched  until  full  grown.  The  color 
of  the  cock  is  similar  to  a  dark  Rrahama,  spangled  with  white  on  the 
breast  and  thighs.  The  hens  are  dark  brown  or  black,  spangled  with 
white ;  less  yellow  and  generally  slightly  feathered.  They  should  have 
double  or  rose  combs,  yet  sometimes  a  single  coml)  appears  among  them ; 
these  we  shall  weed  out  as  fast  as  possible.  Our  pullets,  hatched  in 
May,  commenced  laying  in  November,  with  but  ordinary  care  and  treat- 
ment. -As  a  talile  and  market  fowl,  we  think  they  have  no  superior,  and 
when  they  become  lietter  known  will  prove  a  very  popular  variety.'  " 

After  a  lapse  of  over  thirty  years,  John  P.  Ray  contributed 
to  the  New  York  Tril)une  Fanner  for  March  3.  1904,  a  lenp^thy 
article,  which  in  substance  was  a  reply  to  statements  made  in 
a  bulletin  on  American  breeds  of  poultry,  written  by  T.  F.  Mc- 
Grew,  and  printed  in  the  Fighteenth  Annual  Report  of  the 
Bureau  of  Animal  Industry  (Department  of  Agriculture. 
Washington,  D.  C.  1901)  from  which  we  quote  below  extracts 
which  purport  to  give  the  true  origin  of  the  Wyandotte  breed. 
Mr.  Ray  states : 

John  P.  Ray's  History  of  the  Origin. — "In  the  chapter  devoted 
to  the  Wyandotte  breed,  the  author  has  fallen  into  gross  errors  that  are 
misleading  to  the  poultry  men  and  the  public  in  general.  On  page  543 
T  quote:  First,  'A  Mr.  John  P.  Ray  of  Hemlock,  N.  Y.,  originated  a 
rose  comb  fowl  by  a  cross  of  a  Sebright  Bantam  male  and  a  yellow 
Chittagong.  which  he  named  Sebright  Cochin.'  In  reference  to  this 
statement,  let  me  say  that  I  never  made  such  a  cross  :  I  never  owned  a 
Sebright  Bantam  male,  and  as  to  the  yellow  Cliittagong.  I  never  saw  the 
fowl.  Neither  did  I  name  my  new  lireed  of  fowls  Sebright  Cochins.  That 
honor  belongs  to  William  M.  Lewis,  who  compiled  the  'People's  Practical 
Poultry  Book'  and  was  for  some  years  poultry  editor  of  'The  American 
Rural  Home.' 

"Second — 'Others  who  became  interested  (among  whom  were  the 
Rev.  A.  S.  Baker  and  Mr.  Benson")  produced  the  same  kind  of  fowl. 
These  three  persons  became  so  interested  with  their  newly  formed  fowls 
that  one  of  them  bad  them  illustrated  in  the  agricultural  press  during 
1872.'  In  regard  to  this  statement  and  in  explanation  of  the  reason  the 
names  of  Messrs.  Baker  and  Benson,  were  exploited  in  connection  with 
this  matter,  let  me  say  that  they  were  Methodist  clergymen.     Soon  after 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  69 

I  started  out  to  develop  this  new  breed,  I  wanted  a  Silver  Sebright  male 
bird  to  cross  on  my  new  blood  line,  and  wrote  one  of  these  gentlemen 
making  inquiry  for  such  a  bird.  He  replied  on  the  same  sheet  on  which 
I  had  written  him,  and  referred  me  to  the  other.  Neither  of  these 
gentlemen  could  furnish  me  with  a  bird.  This  letter  was  preserved  by 
mere  accident,  and  was  not  seen  for  several  years.  Its  only  value  con- 
sisted in  showing  the  early  date  in  which  I  was  making  an  effort  to 
create  a  new  breed.  These  men  kept  a  few  Silver  Sebrights  (not  bantams, 
but  a  fowl  as  large  as  the  Wyandotte),  while  mine  carried  a  Chittagong 
cross  (black  and  yellow  fowl).  I  never  heard  of  these  men  again.  I  do 
not  know  that  six  months  after  that  they  had  a  chick  or  that  any  bird 
ever  owned  by  them  figures  in  the  makeup  of  the  Wyandotte.  Does  Mr. 
McGrew?  At  this  period  the  Silver  Sebright  was  being  kept  about  Sandy 
Hill,  Washington  County,  N.  Y.,  and  by  the  late  H.  M.  Doubleday  of 
Victor,  N.  Y.,  and  others  in  his  vicinity,  and  William  R.  Pitts,  Honeoye, 
N.  Y.  Still,  we  have  no  knowledge  that  any  of  this  blood  enters  into 
the  Wyandotte,  save  that  from  Mr.  Doubleday's  flock. 

"Third — 'Both  Silver  Spangled  Hamburgs  and  Dark  Brahmas  were 
crossed  upon  the  Sebright  Cochin.  Silver  Spangled  Hamburgs  and  Bufif 
Cochins  were  bred  together,  and  the  best  of  all  these  crosses  were 
merged  into  what  were  called  Eurekas ;  also  Excelsiors,  Ambrights, 
American  Sebrights,  Columbias,  etc'  The  foregoing  is  substantially  a 
revamp  of  the  Felch  theory  put  forth  several  years  ago,  and,  in  my 
judgment,  is  a  flight  of  the  imagination  pure  and  simple." 

Mr.  Ray  further  states  that  no  such  crosses  as  named  were 
made  by  breeders  in  this  section  who  had  birds  coming  from 
his  flock;  and  that  a  sufficient  number  of  fowls  and  eggs  were 
shipped  north,  south,  east  and  west  to  give  the  breed  wide  dis- 
persal, while  others  at  an  early  date,  like  the  Rev.  Forsythe, 
George  F.  Hull,  Barnard  Brothers  and  the  late  L.Whittaker, 
North  Adams,  Michigan,  were  not  idle.  "The  last  named 
gentleman,"  remarks  Mr.  Ray,  "was  a  very  successful  breeder 
and  established  a  strain  of  great  value  that  was  widely  known 
as  the  Whittaker  strain  and  some  breeders  claim  to  have  the 
strain  today,  while  not  a  few  give  him  credit  for  originatng 
the  breed." 

Mr.  Ray  publishes  a  number  of  letters  he  received  from 
Mr.  Whittaker  in  1873,  1874  and  1875,  which  clearly  indicate 
the  close  relationship  of  the  stock  bred  by  both,  and  if  the 
credit  for  originating  the  Sebright  Cochins,  or  American  Se- 
brights. belongs  to  John  P.  Ray,  the  credit  for  evolving  the 
true  Wyandotte  must  be  given  to  L.  Whittaker. 

True  Origin  of  Silver  Wyandottes. — Mr.  Ray  further  re- 
marks that  if  a  Dark  Brahma-Hamburg  cross  was  made  in  the 
early  70's,  he  would  have  found  some  vulture  hocks  on  the  one 
hand  and  some  blue  legs  on  the  other.  He  claims  he  never 
saw  evidence  of  either  blood  in  the  Silver  Wyandotte  or  its 


70  AMKinCAX    FOI  L'Jjn     ASi«MU AJJoX 

ancestors.     The  true  ori.yin  of  the   Wyandotte  fowl  is  given 
by  Mr.  Ray  as  follows: 

'  I  will  now  give  the  true  (trigin  of  the  Silver  Wyandotte  l>reed.  In 
the  spring  f)f  1870  we  obtained  a  setting  of  eggs  from  the  late  Edward 
Bronson  of  Fast  Bloomfiehl,  X.  V.,  later  of  .Abilene.  Kans.  His  fowls 
were  the  first  cross  between  tlie  Silver  Seltriglits  and  the  l)]ack  and  yellow 
Chittagong.  The  following  fall  we  purcliased  Mr.  Bronson's  best  pair — 
our  selecttion  of  his  breeding  birds.  This  blood  we  lired  together  for 
two  years.  Our  next  move  was  to  select  a  pair,  our  choice  from  the 
flock  of  pure  Silver  Sebrights  owned  l»y  my  friend  of  many  years,  the 
late  H.  M.  Doubleday,  who  at  that  time  lived  near  Dexter,  X.  \'.  Mr. 
Doubleday  is  entitlecf  to  the  credit  of  l)ringing  the  Silver  Sel)rights  to 
Western  Xew  \()rk.  W  itii  tliis  new  cross  injected  into  my  l)!ood  line,  the 
birds  carried  three-fourths  of  the  Silver  Sel)right  blood'and  one-fourth 
of  the  Chittagong,  and  I  do  not  know  of  any  other  blood  l)eing  crossed 
with  the  breed  down  to  date." 

The  Silver  Sebrights  referreti  to  by  Air.  Ray  as  coming 
from  H.  M.  Doubleday  were  neitlier  bantams  nor  any  other 
larger  breed  of  fowl  recognized  by  that  name,  as  no  early  il- 
lustrations and  historical  data  relating  to  this  mythical  breed 
are  in  existence,  the  only  meager  knowledge  of  Silver  Se- 
brights (?)  available  being  found  in  tlie  following  letter  of  Mr. 
Doubleday : 

"Padelfords,  X.  Y.,  Sei)teml)er  2i.  1897. 
Mr.  Jolin  P.  Ray.  Hemlock,  Xew  York. 

Dear  Sir:  Answering  your  inquiries,  will  say  that  I  removed  from 
Sandy  Hill,  X.  Y.,  to  Farmington  in  the  year  1866.  I  brougiit  a  trio  of 
Silver  Sebrights  with  me.  These,  I  lielieve,  were  the  original  and  only 
ones  brought  to  Western  New  York.  These  birds  I  purchased  of  a  man 
by  the  name  of  Van  Schork,  who  got  his  stock  in  the  town  of  I-laston, 
N.  Y.  This  l)reed  of  fowls  I  believe  to  have  been  a  foreign  or  imported 
bird.  They  were  similar  in  characteristics  to  the  Silver  Wyandottes  of 
today,  except  in  color.  They  were  chocolate  colored,  where  the  Wyandotte 
i.s  black.  They  were  chiefly  rose  combed,  though  occasionally  a  single 
comb  appeared.  Some  were  slightly  feathered  on  the  leg.  Tlie  cocks 
had  the  wing  I)ars  of  the  Wyandottes  of  today,  of  which  you  know  better 
than  any  other  man  that  they  constituted  tlirce-quartcrs  of  the  original 
blood  of  which  the  Wyandotte  was  made.  I  have  no  knowledge  of  their 
having  Dark  Brahma  or  Hamburg  cross,  and  do  not  l)elieve  that  they 
had  such  crosses,  as  I  never  saw  a  l)lue  leg  or  vulture  hock  among 
them,  which  must  have  appeared  had  they  possessed  these  bloods. 

I  recall  selling  you  a  pair  of  chicks  (your  selection)  in  the  fall  of 
1872.  I  was  well  acf|uainted  with  the  Chittagongs,  which  were  essentially 
the  Golden  Wyandottes  of  today,  and  wiiich  constituted  the  cross  of  which 
you  made  the  Wyandotte.  Hoping  that  some  day  the  public  will  accredit 
you  with  the  honor  which  is  due  you  of  originating  the  Wyandotte  breed, 
I  am, 

Sinccrelv, 

H.  M.  DOUBLKD.KY." 


WYANDOTTE   STAXDARD   AND   BREED   BOOK  71 

Mr.  Ray  evidently  agrees  with  Mr.  Doubleday  that  the 
Chittag-ongs  were  essentially  the  Golden  Wyandottes  of  today 
and  states  :  "These  birds  were  owned  in  considerable  numbers 
during  the  60's  in  the  towns  of  Victor,  East  Bloomfield  and 
Canandaigua,  Ontario  County,  N.  Y.,  by  Peter  H.  McMillan, 
John  M.  Norton,  Chilotte  Collins,  a  Mr.  Cooley  and  Mr.  Brace, 
now  of  Victor,  the  world-famed  Single  Combed  Brown  Leg- 
horn breeder.  My  first  birds  were  Silver-laced  and  Gold- 
laced,  clean-legged  and  feather-legged,  single-combed  and 
rose-  combed.  I  selected  for  breeding  stock  the  silver-laced, 
rose-combed  ones,  and  for  some  little  time  those  with  feathers 
on  the  leg;  these,  as  a  rule,  were  the  best  birds  as  to  shape 
and  color.  Later  we  bred  for  clean  legs  altogether.  What 
higher  compliment  can  be  paid  to  a  breed  than  to  have  all  its 
sports  and  cross-bred  birds  that  have  refined  into  a  type  take 
the  name  of  the  original  breed  with  color  as  a  suthx.  We 
now  have  the  Silver  and  Golden,  White  and  Black,  Pencilled 
and  Partridge,  Bufif  Wyandottes,  with  the  Dominique  Wyan- 
dotte yet  to  bob  up." 

Mr.  Ray's  statement  that  the  Wyandotte  originated  from 
the  Sebright  Cochin  bred  by  him,  is  corroborated  by  L.  Whit- 
taker  of  North  Adams,  Michigan,  who,  in  1886,  wrote  to  the 
Rev.  Chas.  L.  Ayer  as  follows : 

"Wyandottes  in  72  were  known  as  Sebright  Cochins.  I  first  found 
them  at  Honeoye,  N.  Y.  I  thought  at  that  time  I  could  see  all  their  future 
popularity  and  the  result  has  proved  my  prediction  true.  In  January, 
77,  I  gave  them  the  name  of  American  Sebrights.  As  to  their  origin  I 
made  a  strict  search  in  the  years  72,  73  and  74,  and  each  inquiry 
brought  a  dififerent  theory  and  on  following  up  the  matter  I  would  find 
them  all  merely  guesses." 

We  should  add  to  the  list  of  guesses,  the  statement  made 
by  Mr.  Doubleday  that  the  Chittagongs  were  essentially  the 
Golden  Wyandottes  of  today.  That  they  may  have  resembled 
the  latter  variety  is  not  at  all  unlikely,  as  the  Chittagongs  de- 
scended from  the  Black  Red  Malay  breed. 

Whittaker  Strain  of  Wyandottes. — -Franklane  L.  Sewell, 
who  was  intimately  acquainted  with  Mr.  Whittaker,  visited 
the  latter  about  a  year  before  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1911,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  all  the  facts  relating  to 
the  Whittaker  strain  of  Silver  Wyandottes.  which  owes  its 
origin  to  the  Sebright  Cochins.  From  Mr.  Sewell's  interview 
with    Mr.   Whittaker   we   glean   the    following   authentic    in- 


72  AMJ:iiICAX    I'ULLTin     AtiiSUCIATl0.\ 

formation  relating  to  the  originator  and  the  true  Silver  Wyan- 
dotte. 

Leonard  Whittaker  was  a  farmer,  who  in  1870  was  in- 
terested in  blooded  fowls  and  who  had  great  cunhdence  in 
the  future  of  the  Standard-bred  poultry  industry.  At  the  time 
he  first  heard  of  Sebright  Cochins,  as  Wyandottes  were  then 
known,  he  was  breeding  Light  and  Dark  Brahmas,  Butt  and 
Partridge  Cochins,  lioudans  and  White  Leghorns.  His  cous- 
in, B.  H.  Hunn,  whose  home  was  at  North  Adams,  Michigan, 
returning  from  a  visit  to  Honeoye,  N.  Y.,  brouglit  back  to 
Mr.  Whittaker  a  description  of  Sebright  Cochins,  which  great- 
ly aroused  the  curiosity  of  the  latter  and  he  became  greatly 
interested  in  them  because  "they  were  such  plump,  nicely- 
rounded  fowls",  as  Mr.  llunn  expressed  it.  The  result  was 
that  Mr.  Whittaker  corresponded  with  John  P.  Ray,  who  had 
these  birds  at  Honeoye,  and  eggs  at  first,  followed  by  breed- 
ing stock,  were  obtained  by  him. 

Mr.  Ray  seemed  bent  on  producing  first  what  he  termed 
"Sebright  Cochins  with  feathered  legs",  so  that  Mr.  Whittaker 
readily  purchased  the  bare-shanked  ones.  During  the  second 
year  (1874)  Mr.  Whittaker  was  rewarded  in  his  breeding  by 
producing  a  fine  female,  which  he  always  spoke  of  as  "The 
Big  Hen"  (Fig.  26).  She  proved  to  be  a  breeder  of  rare  value, 
being  "a  very  clear-colored,  nicely  laced  bird,  with  bright,  open 
centers  that  were  wonderfully  free  from  mossing  and  her 
hackles  were  striped  with  Silvery-White  edging",  as  Mr.  Whit- 
taker described  her  color  marking.  But  the  shape  of  this  hen 
in  her  pullet  year  was  not  so  well  impressed  upon  his  mem- 
ory as  the  type  she  developed  in  later  years.  This  he  de- 
scribed as  rounded,  deep,  almost  level  on  her  back  and  under- 
neath, rather  Cochiny  and  rounded  out.  She  seemed  best  of 
all  of  his  early  birds  to  combine  the  large,  rounded  form  in- 
herited from  the  Red  Chittagong  cross  made  by  John  P.  Ray, 
with  the  color  and  lacing  of  the  American  Sebrights  of  the 
Doubleday  stock  and  which  Mr.  Ray  affirms  were  not  ban- 
tams, but  almost   equalling  tiie   modern   Wyandotte   in   size. 

Mr.  Whittaker  finally  secured  all  the  clean-legged  birds 
Mr.  Ray  had  to  sell  and  often  referred  to  them  as  tlie  "slim- 
mer type"  and  claimed  they  had  the  best  open-lacing  and 
striped-necks.  Pie  valued  the  large  rounded  form  for  its  grand 
appearance,  but  he  stated  that  he  had  to  select  some  of  the 
"slimmer  type"  birds  to  get  rid  of  the  "shawl-neck".  The 
shawl-necked  birds  had  the  rounder,  plumper-form  and  rose 
combs. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  73 

The  "slimmer  type"  were  in  all  probability  nearer  the  Se- 
bright type  of  birds  that  Mr.  Ray  obtained  from  Mr.  Double- 
day  and  with  which  he  crossed  the  black  and  red  Chittagongs. 
The  latter  increased  the  size  and  rounded  exterior,  but  also 
brought  into  the  plumage  the  mixed-up  coloring  of  neck, 
back  and  saddle,  producing  what  Mr.  Whittaker  termed  the 
"shawl-neck",  meaning  a  hackle  filled  with  dark,  smoky  colored 
feathers. 

From  the  appearance  of  the  Sebright  and  the  way  the 
"slimmer  type"  for  several  generations  reverted  back,  even 
when  re-crossed,  he  was  assured  that  the  Sebrights  came  of  a 

FIGURE  26. 


WHITTAKER'S  "BIG  HEN." 

An  ideal  illustration  drawn  by  F.  L.  Sewell  according  to  Mr.  Whit- 
taker's  description  of  each  section  after  a  lapse  of  thirty  years. 


74  AMhJRICAX    POILTKY    ASS(K'IATl<>N 

Stock  that  for  some  time  had  been  (|uite  well  established.  When 
asked  to  describe  some  of  the  principal  defects  or  character- 
istics which  he  did  not  like  in  the  early  American  Sebrights, 
afterward  Wyandottes,  Mr.  Whittaker  replied:  "Single  combs, 
white  in  ear-lobes,  shawl-necks  and  smoky  shanks".  Besides 
the  single  coml)s.  a  few  combs  developed  without  spikes  at 
rear  and  scjmetimes  were  low  in  the  center.  The  strawberry- 
shaped  comb  appeared  on  a  few  males  with  longer  necks  and 
longer  legs  than  ordinary. 

A  few  of  the  cockerels,  especially  those  that  developed  the 
longest  tails,  had  considerable  white  at  the  root,  noticeable 
on  the  u])per  web  of  the  main  sickles.  Mr.  Whittaker  did  not 
experience  much  difficulty  with  frosting  on  the  black  lacing 
until  he  made  some  crosses  with  New  luigland  stock.  In  the 
80's  he  exchanged  with  a  party  at  Seneca  Falls.  N.  Y..  and 
mated  a  male  of  this  new  stock  to  females  of  his  own  strain, 
but  the  chicks  resulting  showed  reversions  to  Dark  Brahma 
blood,  and  were  very  mossy.  This  was  the  first  time  such  a 
reversion  to  the  Dark  Brahma  had  been  seen  by  Mr.  Whit- 
taker. 

The  wing-bar  color  of  the  male,  as  described  in  the  first 
Standard  for  \\'yandottes  was  unknown  in  the  Whittaker  line 
of  blood,  that  strain  being  laced  on  the  wing  coverts;  white  on 
upper  edge  of  tail  of  males  Mr.  Whittaker  considered  a  defect 
difficult  to  breed  out  and  shawl-neck  he  described  as:  "The 
neck  of  male  bird  (on  wliich  it  was  most  conspicuous)  was 
silvery-white  down  to  ihv  fullness  (meaning  the  arch,  or  full 
portion  of  the  neck),  then  it  was  a  kind  of  mixed,  smoky  moss 
of  dark  color." 

The  "Big  lien"  had  the  first  clear-strii)e(l  neck  that  he 
produced  on  a  bird  of  her  type  and  proved  of  great  value  ;  for 
ehe  lived  nine  or  ten  years  and  was  no  doubt  a  potent  factor 
in  developing  the  popular  type  for  the  strain,  and  was  the 
mother  of  a  goodly  number  of  the  best  in  the  foundation  stock 
of  W'yandottes. 

Refused  Admission  to  Standard  in  1877.  Mr.  Whittaker 
failed  in  the  atteni])!  to  have  his  .Vnicrican  Sebrights  ad- 
mitted to  the  Standard  of  Excellence  in  1877,  for  reasons  set 
forth  in  the  following  statement  by  I.  K.  h\'lch.  who  was 
present  at  the  .\nierican  Poultry  Association  meeting  of  that 
year: 

"Whittaker  in  1877  offered  his  birds  to  the  .American  Pouhry  .Asso- 
ciation as  American  Sebrights.     At  the  same  meeting  the  Kidder  faction 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  75 

wanted  them  accepted  with  peacombs  and  feathered  legs  as  Eurekas.  The 
American  Poultry  Association  refused,  and  recommended  that  the  breed- 
ers come  together  and  agree  on  some  one  thing.  *  *  *  *  There  is  no 
disputing  the  fact  that  Ray,  Baker  and  Rev.  Benson  were  lireeding  them 
as  Sebright  Cochins,  that  the  first  cross  was  a  large  Sebright  Bantam 
cock  with  a  Buff  Cochin  hen ;  that  this  was  subsequently  top-crossed  by 
Hamburgs ;  that  Kidder  did  introduce  Dark  Brahma  blood  and  then  the 
Silver-Spangled  Hamburg  male.  All  this  came  out  at  that  Buffalo  meet- 
ing in  1877.  I  have  Ray's  letters  dated  1871,  with  an  endorsement  on  the 
back  in  1886  by  A.  S.  Baker,  that  show  the  first  cross  was  as  early  as 
1864  to  1866.  Ray  was  one  of  two  or  three  breeding  these  birds  in  1867, 
but  the  fact  that  he  was  hunting  for  crosses  to  breed  to  his,  shows  that 
there  were  others  at  it,  too.  Between  1877  and  1883,  there  was  another 
top-cross  and  the  blood  of  the  French  Breda  and  the  Hamburg  was 
added — also  light  colored  specimens  of  Dark  Brahmas.  Ray,  Baker  and 
Benson  were  the  starters,  but  these  other  crosses  were  added  before  they 
went  in  to  the  Standard  in  188v3." 

The  "Silver  Sebrights"  (?)  mentioned  by  Mr.  Doubleday 
were  referred  to  by  liini  as  "a  foreign  or  imported  bird"  and 
the  supposition  is  that  the  Breda  are  also  known  to  have  been 
such,  several  colors  being  found  aomng  them,  such  as  black, 
white  and  silver-laced.  We  are,  however,  most  inclined  to  put 
our  faith  in  the  Lancashire  Mooney"  as  the  "imported  bird" 
mentioned  by  Mr.  Doubleday,  for  we  believe  this  old  English 
breed  to  have  played  an  important  part  in  the  history  of  the 
Wyandotte  fowl.  The  pronounced  Hamburg-type  of  rose 
comb  of  the  Mooney  not  infrequently  made  its  appearance  in 
both  Wyandotte  males  and  females,  long  after  they  were  made 
a  Standard  breed.  One  of  the  finest  cockerels  we  owed  in  the 
early  80's  sported  a  rose  comb  which  would  have  been  con- 
sidered an  ideal  one  for  a  Hamburg  male,  but  a  misfit  on  a 
Wyandotte. 

Lancashire  Mooneys. — The  illustration  depicts  a  pair  of 
Lancashire  Mooneys.  This  is  a  reproduction  from  an  old  Eng- 
lish print,  executed  by  W.  and  H.  Ward.  The  wing-bars  of 
the  male  bird  in  this  picture  fit  the  description  given  by  Mr. 
Doubleday  when  he  wrote  to  Mr.  Ray  in  1898 :  "The  cocks 
had  the  wing-bars  of  the  Wyandotte  of  today". 

Franklane  L.  Sewell,  in  referring  to  the  illustration  of 
Lancashire  Mooneys  in  1907,  remarked :  "Regarding  the  cut 
of  Spangled  Hamburgs  in  1860,  they  furnish  a  possible  link  in 
the  Wyandotte  history.  I  feel  quite  certain  that  in  1860  there 
were  Hamburgs  in  England  with  spangles ;  for  I  have  talked 
in  England  with  old  fanciers  from  Yorkshire  and  Lancashire 
who  have  shown  at  exhibitions  for  forty  years  or  more  and 
they  speak  of  them  as  Mooneys  and  tell  of  the  large  "moons" 


76 


AMERICAX  POULTIiY   ASSOCIATIOX 


(or  spangles).  However,  this  picture,  represented  to  have 
been  made  from  an  ilhistration  by  W.  and  H.  Ward  is  really  a 
drawing  by  j.  \V.  Ludlow,  is  to  be  the  most  reasonable  solu- 
tion of  the  earliest  type  that  could  have  helped  best  to  make 
the  local  Wyandotte  with  the  Chittagong  to  increase  size  and 
add  fluff,  and  supply  a  more  level-carried  body — deeper  in 
front,  and  shorter  in  tail  plumage,  besides  broadening  the 
whole  structure." 

That  such  an  eminent  authority  as  J.  \V.  Ludlow,  one  of 
ICngland's  greatest  poultry  artists  and  judges,  believes  in  the 
Hamburg-Dark  Brahma  origin  of  the  Wyandotte,  the  follow- 
ing explanatory  letter  (1908).  regarding  the  old  print  of 
Mooneys  referred  to  by  Mr.  Sewell,  will  corroborate: 

FIGURE  27. 


I'Vom 
Ludlow. 


LANCASHIRE  "MOONEYS." 
/ood-cut  print,  redrawn  by  the   Eiit,'lisli   artist,   J. 


"I  rcnienihcr  well  wlicn  a  large  proportimi  of  Silver  and  Golden 
Spangled  Haml)urgs  were  of  that  type.  Large  and  coarse  in  shape,  more 
or  less  red  in  lobe,  heavy  in  comb  and  laced  in  feather,  others  perhaps 
with  mere  half  moons,  or  simple  tips.     (This  would  be  50  or  60  years  ago.) 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  77 

"The  print  I  recognize  as  a  reduction  of  a  copy  I  made  years  ago, 
published  side  by  side  with  a  drawing  of  mine,  of  up-to-date  spangles, 
and  issued,  I-think,  in  'The  Stockkeeper'  or  'Fanciers'  Gazette'  (not  sure 
which).  I  did  them  to  show  the  progress  made  in  the  evolution  of  the 
proper  moon  spangling. 

"I  did  not  know  either  of  the  Wards  personally,  but  I  knew  a  nephew. 
But  I  did  know  the  engraver  who  etched  the  steel  plate  from  which  the 
original  prints  were  taken.  His  name  was  Homer,  an  expert  engraver. 
I,  however,  borrowed  the  original  set  of  Hamburg  prints  from  a  local 
newspaper  editor's  son.  Anyhow,  I  can  say  of  my  own  knowledge  that 
the  representations  are  true  and  reliable  and  fairly  depict  the  Hamburgs 
of  fifty  years  ago.     (I  am  67.) 

"I  cannot  tell  where  any  of  the  old  laced  pattern  are  now  to  be  had. 
No,  the  majority  are  now  heavily  (too  heavily.  I  think)  spangled,  even 
to  overlapping  moons. 

"In  the  early  days,  many  single  combs  were  bred,  but  were  never 
liked.  They  came  simply  as  occasional  sports,  as  such  appear  in  rnost 
breeds,  until  persistent  and  united  effort  has  led  to  their  practical  extinc- 
tion in  Great  Britain,  at  least,  and  yet  even  now  and  again  comes  a  single 
combed  chick,  however  refined  the  strain  from  which  it  springs. 

"I  take  it  that  your  chief  object  is  to  ascertain  the  relationship  of  the 
old  pattern  laced  Hamburg  to  the  present  Wyandotte.  There  is  no  doubt 
in  my  mind  as  to  the  origin  of  each  variety  of  Wyandottes.  Suffice  to  say 
here  that  the  Silver-laced  Wyandotte  comes  from  a  judicious  amalgama- 
tion of  these  very  laced  Silver  Spangled  Hamburgs  crossed  with  what 
we  (here)  call  Dark  Brabmas.  I  have  worked  the  problem  out  fully  and 
can  account  as  fully  for  this  theory,  together  with  a  few  indisputable  facts 
which  only  those  who  study  both  British  and  American  Standards  can 
fully  comprehend  and   which   only  ample  space   would   suffice  to   explain. 

"America  rightly  claims  the  making  of  the  Wyandotte,  but  I  am  as 
positive  of  the  elements  of  each  sort  which  have  been  used  as  though  I 
had  been  the  patentee  and  so  soon  as  I  was  permitted  to  see  what  had 
been  done  in  Silvers  and  Goldens  I  saw  equally  clear  further  possibilities 
in  Wyandottes,  still  easier  of  production.  Americans  have  largely  im- 
ported from  Great  Britain.  In  the  early  days  they  did  not  always  get 
our  best,  no,  but  they  did  at  least  get  just  those  very  selections  which 
have  enabled  them  under  judicious  usage  to  evolve  and  give  us  old  time 
fanciers  many  useful  breeds  and  many  good  lessons  in  amalgamation  of 
breeds  which  I  have  from  time  to  time  appreciated  and  which  all  rea- 
soning fanciers  are  bound  to  recognize." 

From  the  foregoing-  testimony  and  suppositions  of  experi- 
enced poultry  breeders  and  authorities,  it  is  evident,  after 
sifting  out  the  speculative  theories  advanced  by  some  writ- 
ers, that  the  ancestral  blood  of  the  Wyandotte  fowl  traced 
back  to  one  distinct  breed — the  Hamburg — and  to  one  sub- 
breed  or  variety — the  Dark  Brahma. 

Chittagongs  or  Dark  Brahmas. — Regarding  the  early  Dark 
Brahmas,  they  were  called  Grav  Chittagongs  as  far  back  as 
1874.  W.  A.  Fuller,  Fultonsville,  N.  Y.,  one  of  the  oldest 
breeders  of  Dark  Brahmas  in  the  United  States,  in  reply  to  our 


78  AMERICAX   POVLTliY   ASSOCIATION 

request  for  information  relatinjj:  to  the  Chittagongs,  on  Au- 
gust 14,  1912,  writes: 

"The  first  Dark  Brahmas  came  to  tliis  country  in  1846.  on  a  ship 
that  sailed  from  a  port  on  the  liraiima  Pootra  River,  India.  They  were 
purchased  by  Mr.  Xelson  H.  Chamberlain.  Xew  Britain,  Conn.  The  first 
brood  came  out  in  1847.  Mr.  \irgil  Cornish  l)ousht  nearly  all  of  them 
and  exliibited  some  of  this  lot  first  at  Boston  in  1850.  under  tiie  name 
of  ChittaRouRS,  as  tliey  looked  something  like  the  ChittUKongs  then  bred 
in  this  country.  But  Mr.  Cornish,  wiio  attended  the  exhibition,  claimed 
that  his  Chittagongs  were  diflferent  and  should  have  a  distinctive  name. 
A  committee  was  appointed,  which  decided  to  give  the  Cornish  liirds 
the  name  of  Brahma  Pootra,  in  honor  of  the  great  river  of  India  from 
which  they  originally  came.  Karly  poultry  writers,  however,  proclaimed 
the  Brahma  to  be  a  mongrel  of  his  own  creation  and  the  Chittagongs  a 
breed  made  up  of  a  cross  of  the  Malay  and  Dorking.  In  my  opinion,  if 
the  Dark  Brahmas  are  a  made-up  breed  of  crosses,  they  would  throw 
sports,  and  in  all  that  I  have  bred  I  never  had  one." 

George  P.  Burnham.  of  "Hen  Fever"  fame,  however,  dis- 
putes the  claim  that  Dark  Brahmas  came  to  this  country  from 
India,  and  insists  that  he  l)red  them  as  Gray  Shanghaes  from 
his  imported  stock,  which  came  from  China  instead  of  IncHa. 

J.  Macomber,  Newton  Center,  Mass.,  in  "The  Poultry 
World,"  September,  1874,  states  that  when  he  resided  at 
Jamaica  Plain  several  years  before,  he  received  from  Phila- 
delphia a  pair  of  what  were  called  (iray  Chittagongs.  the  cock 
weighing  thirteen  and  one-half  pounds.  So  evidently  the  Gray 
Chittagong,  Gray  Shanghai,  Brahma  Pootra  and  Dark  Brahma 
were  closely  allied  in  type  and  color,  although  the  original 
Chittagong  itself  differed  in  color  and  shape  besides  having 
clean  shanks  and  feet.  Doyle  in  his  "Illustrated  Book  ni 
Poultry"  (1850)  refers  to  Chittagongs  as  "usually  l)rown  or 
yellow,  and  sometimes  almost  black" ;  but  Bennett's  "Ameri- 
can Poulterer's  Companion"  (New  York.  1856)  is  authority 
for  the  statement :  "The  Chittagongs  are  strongly  suspected 
to  be  a  cross  between  the  Malay  and  Dorking.  They  are 
usually  penciled  or  spangled  in  plumage,  but  they  have  been 
occasionally  seen  with  a  mixture  of  yellow  or  brown  uj^on  the 
feathers." 

In  Bennett's  "Poultry  Book"  (Boston.  1850).  a  detailed  ac- 
count of  this  ancient  breed  or  variety  may  be  found,  also  an 
illustration  of  a  hen  sold  by  a  Philadeli)hia  to  a  Boston  Fancier 
about  that  time.  The  illustration  (  Fig.  28)  is  referred  to  as 
"The  portrait  is  ])resented  here  on  account  of  the  peculiar  mer- 
its of  this  particular  sjieciiTien.  She  is  of  the  Brown  Chitta- 
gong variety,  her  jilumage  being  of  a  yellowish-brown,  with 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED   BOOK  79 

the  feathers  tipped  with  black,  producing  a  spotted  appearance. 
She  has  five  toes  on  each  foot.  This  individual  is  undoubtedly 
the  largest  hen  in  America,  weighing  thirteen  pounds  anrl  four 
ounces." 

The  origin  of  the  Brahma  was  the  subject  of  a  long  and  bit- 
ter controversy  about  the  middle  of  the  last  century,  many 
theories  being  advanced  only  to  be  exploded  by  others.  But 
George  P.  Burnham,  who  first  introduced  Light  Brahmas, 
proved  conclusively  that  the  blood  of  these  Brahmas  was  a 
composite  of  Shanghai    (or  Cochin)    and   Chittagong. 

FIGURE  28. 


"CHITTAGONG"  HEN. 

The  above  illustration  is  reproduced  from  an  old.  wood-cut  printed  in 
1850.    This  hen  weighed  thirteen  pounds. 

The  strong  blood  of  the  Malay  in  the  Chittagong  crops  out 
in  the  sub-breeds  of  the  latter,  the  overhanging  or  beetle  brow 
and  pea  comb  of  the  Brahma  being  notable  examples,  while  in 
some  of  the  earlier  strains  of  Wyandottes  the  tendency  toward 
a  Brahmaneque  head  and  pea  comb  was  noticeable  not  infre- 
cpiently. 

The  Dorking  blood  in  the  Chittagong  is  evidently  less 
potent  than  that  of  the  Malay,  as  no  reversion  to  Dorking  char- 


80 


AMERICAX   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


acteristics  has  been  found  that  we  arc  aware  of.  certainly  not 
the  fifth  toe  whicli  is  a  distinguishing  feature  of  the  Dorking 
breed. 

Although  thcrt'  will  always  exist  some  doubt  as  to  absolute 
reliability  of  the  claims  made  by  early  breeders  of  American 
Scbrights  or  Sebright  Cochins,  regarding  the  component  i)arts 
which  made  up  the  new  ])reed,  we  are  reasonably  safe  in  trac- 
ing back  the  blood  lines  of  the  following  four  distinct  breeds, 
viz..  llamburgs.  Malays.  Cochins  or  .*^hanghaes.  and  Dorkings. 
(I.ll.D.) 


FIGURE  29. 


TH1-:  HOUDLETTE  PICTURE. 

This  illustration,  rci)ro(lucec!  from  an  early  (1887)  drawing  of  Laced 
Wyandottes,  presents  white-laced  sickles  on  the  male.  This  defect  was 
quite  common  in  the  early  Wyandottes.  In  the  male  and  female  the 
shawl-neck  tendency,  described  by  Mr.  Whittaker,  is  displayed. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED   BOOK 


CHAPTER  III. 

CHANGES  IN  TYPE  AND  COLOR  FROM  1884 
FORWARD. 

FOLLOWING  the  advent  of  the  American  Sebright  in 
1874  and  1875,  considerable  rivalry  sprang-  up  between 
the  breeders  of  the  older  and  newer  type,  which  was 
intensified  by  the  appearance  of  a  new  production,  the  result 
of  crossing  the  American  Sebright  with  a  Hamburg-Dark 
Brahma  cross  and  which  was  brought  out  under  the  name 
"Eureka,"  one  of  the  many  bewildering  names  suggested  by 
various  breeders  for  one  and  the  same  breed  which  was  adver- 
tised as  Sebright  Cochins,  American  Sebrights.  Excelsiors, 
Ambrights  and  Hambletonians. 

But  to  F.  A.  Houdlette,  Waltham,  Massachusetts,  belongs 
the  honor  of  naming  the  new  breed,  and  credit  must  be  given 
to  him  as  one  of  the  originators,  for  as  A.  A.  Rowland  of  Wor- 
cester, Massachusetts,  remarked  in  "The  Poultry  World" 
thirty  years  ago : 

"To  his  earnest  and  intelligent  labors,  the  Silver  Wyandotte  was 
largely  indebted  for  its  attractive  qualities  that  finally  led  to  its  admission 
to  the  American  Standard  of  Excellence  at  the  meeting  of  the  American 
Poultry  Association  held  at  Worcester,  Massachusetts,  Feliruary  1  and  2, 
1883." 

The  name  "Wyandotte"  was  suggested  to  Mr.  Houdlette 
by  the  ship  "Wyandotte,"  owned  by  his  father,  and  not  (as 
has  generally  been  believed)  given  in  honor  of  the  American 
tribe  of  Wyandotte  Lidians. 

First  Exhibit  of  Wyandottes. — Silver  Wyandottes  were 
first  exhibited  as  a  Standard  breed  in  New  York  City  in  1884, 
the  "Rural  New  Yorker"  printing  the  first  report  of  the  new 
breed  as  follows : 

"The  first  appearance  of  the  variety  as  Standard  specimens  was  at 
the  exhibition  of  the  Fanciers'  Club  of  New  York  City  last  month,  when 
the  large  display,  new  to  the  showroom,  in  the  black  and  white  velvety 
plumage  attracted  great  attention.  The  perfect  bird  was  not  there,  the 
best  adults,  male  and  female,  scoring  respectively  SSyi  and  82>^  ;  the  first 
prize  winning-  chicks  reaching  95^  and  93^.  The  awards  went  to  G.  D. 
Millington,    North   Bennington,   Vermont,    first   and    second    for   breeding 


82 


AMKHICAX    POILTHY    AtiHOVlATlOX 


pens,  first  for  fowls ;  first  and  second  for  chicks  to  H.  D.  Macumber, 
Truxton,  N.  Y. ;  second  for  fowls,  third  for  chicks,  to  Kate  G.  Ash,  Lima, 
Pa.  Both  breeding  pens  were  sold  before  the  show  closed,  the  first  going 
to  one  of  the  Harper  Brothers,  the  second  to  Philip  Timson." 

Franklane  L.  Scwell,  who  was  the  first  artist  in  this  coun- 
try to  delineate  and  portray  the  Silver  Wyandotte  correctly, 
in  a  letter  dated  October  9,  1912,  describes  the  first  Wyandotte 
he  saw  in  the  West  as  follows : 

"The  first  Wyandottes  I  saw  were  at  the  house  yards  of  Dr.  Edward 
B.  Weston  of  Highland  Park,  111.,  in  the  spring  of  1884.  This  was  just 
following  their  admission  by  the  American  Poultry  Association  to  the 
Standard  of  Excellence. 

"Dr.  Weston,  since  1872,  has  been  breeding  several  leading  races  of 
highest  class,  standard-bred  fcnvls  of  the  very  best  strains.  The  doctor 
always  satisfied   his  ambition   to  have  only  the  best,  and   with   Leghorns, 


FIGURE  30. 


MILLING  I  0\  b  L\Rt\    W^WDOTTIS 

This  picture  presents  the  ideal  color  markings  of  Silver  Wyandottes 
at  the  time  they  became  a  Standard  breed. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


83 


Javas,  Hamburgs  and  Cochins,  it  meant  a  good  deal  for  him  to  say  of 
the  W'yandottes  at  that  time,  1884 :  'There  does  not  exist  today  a  better 
fowl  for  all  purposes.  They  lay  a  large  egg  and  many  of  them ;  for  table 
purposes,  they  surpass  any  variety  with  which  I  am  acquainted.  The 
hens  make  excellent  setters  and  mothers,  but  are  not  so  persistently 
broody  that  they  cannot  be  broken  of  it,  if  desired.  They  are  hardy  and 
easily  raised  and  their  chicks  reach  the  broiler  state  at  an  early  age.  This 
fact  makes  them  a  most  desirable  fowl  for  those  who  raise  poultry  for 
the  market.  No  variety  will  please  the  farmer  better.  The  fancier  also 
will  be  pleased  with  them,  and  in  the  future  they  will  form  one  of  the 
leading  attractions  at  our  poultry  exhibitions.' 

"This,  with  the  illustration,  appeared  in  Dr.  Weston's  circular.  In 
describing  the  color  of  their  plumage,  he  said :  'In  color  they  are  black 
and  white,  a  part  of  the  white  having  a  yellowish  shade.'  This  yellowish 
or  straw-colored  shade  was  more  commonly  noticed  at  that  time  than 
later,  when  fanciers  selected  and  bred  to  obtain  the  silvery  white,  and  culled 
out  those  specimens  showing  the  yellowish  tinge.  The  illustration  shows 
the  tvpe  that  Dr.  ^^'eston  then  most  fancied  and  with  which  he  won  at 
Chicago  in  1882-1883  and  1884. 

FIGURE  31. 


G.  K.  KNAPP'S  K.ARLY  WYAXDOTTES. 

This  picture,  ahliuugli  considerably  idealized,  presents  fairly  correctly 
tlie  l)rced  as  it  appeared  prior  lo  its  admission  to  the  Standard  in  1883. 


84 


AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


"As  I  recall  my  visit  to  the  doctor's  home  place,  where  quite  a  number 
of  his  choicest  pens  were  housed,  I  was  shown  three  breeding  pens  of 
Wyandottes.  Two  of  these  pens  very  closely  resembled  the  illustration 
shown  here  from  his  old  catalogue  issued  about  the  time  of  the  above 
last  date.  One  of  the  pens  contained  a  few  females  of  the  coarser, 
fluffier,  more  cochiny-type.  I  rememl^er  asking  his  man  who  was  showing 
me  through  which  type  was  most  preferred,  and  he  said  that  the  closer, 
smoother-plumaged  type  was  finest  and  that  on  this  type  the  lacing  came 
most  distinct  and  clearest.  On  meeting  Dr.  Weston  lately  in  Chicago,  he 
described  the  Wyandotte  with  smooth-surface  plumage  as  much  preferred 
in   the  early  80's   to  the  more  cochiny-shapcd   specimens. 

"Critical  comparison  of  this  illustration,  made  for  Dr.  E.  B.  Weston 
liy  the  engraver,  B.  X.  Pierce,  shows  the  type  then  bred  as  more  slender, 
more  delicately  modeled  than  ideals  of  the  breed  today.  The  head  is  not 
so  broad  and  the  throat  looks  more  cut  out.  The  tail  is  considerably 
developed,  the  sickles  and  hangers  of  greater  length  than  present-day 
models,  and  the  sickles  extending  beyond  the  tail  proper.  The  'double 
curve  of  the  back,  so  much  admired  on  the  Wyandotte  for  many  years, 
is  quite  conspicuous.     The  comb  shows  narrower  at  its  base,  not  so  firmly 


FIGURE  32. 


K^^^"  -3  ' 


...->^' 


a^OASKjo. 


TYPE  OF  WYANDOTTE  IN  1885. 


The  above  illustration  presents  an  outline  of  a  Silver  Wyandotte  pul- 
let, bred  by  F.  L.  Mattison  of  Vermont  and  purchased  from  him  by  Wood- 
ward and  Sewell  in  1885.  Mr.  Sewell,  who  sketched  the  al)ove  from  life, 
describes  her  type  as  follows :  "A  Silver  Wyandotte  pullet  of  the  fuller- 
feathered  type.  She  was  of  good  size,  of  fluffy  under  plumage  and 
appeared  unusually  large."  The  sketch  on  the  right  represents  the  accepted 
male  type  of  the  same  period. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  85 

set  on  the  head  as  the  type  later  selected  and  the  spike  extends  back  and 
slightly  upwards  forming  a  moderately-sized  leader,  more  like  the  Ham- 
burg comb." 

To  Franklane  L.  Sewell,  also,  belongs  the  credit  of  being 
the  first  artist  to  sketch  faithfully  the  outline  of  a  Silver 
Wyandotte  hen  in  1885. 

The  Wyandotte  Boom  and  Boomerang. — At  the  New 
York  Poultry  Show  in  1885,  the  Wyandotte  breed  was  fairly 
under  way  and,  like  many  others,  we  caught  the  Wyandotte 
fever.  But  it  was  not  long  after  the  boom  was  on,  before  the 
boomerang  struck  the  new  breed  a  solar  plexus  blow,  which 
required  years  of  honest  endeavor  and  the  most  careful  elimi- 
nation of  worthless  breeding  stock  by  conscientious  and  pro- 
gressive breeders  to  repair  the  great  injury  inflicted  by  care- 
less promoters.  Commercial  greed  overstepped  all  bounds  and 
the  country  was  flooded  with  thousands  of  worthless  scrubs, 
sold  as  Wyandottes.  In  fact  it  made  no  difference  whether 
they  had  rose,  single  or  pea  combs,  clean  or  feathered  shanks. 

There  were,  however,  earnest  breeders  and  fanciers  who 
never  lost  courage  or  their  faith  in  the  breed  and  who  remained 
loyal  to  Silver  Wyandottes,  fully  realizing  the  great  intrinsic 
value  as  well  as  remarkable  beauty  of  feather  a  well-bred 
Wyandotte  should  possess.  These  were  the  pioneers  that 
started  the  work  of  regeneration  and  reclaimed  from  public 
condemnation  and  distrust  that  breed  which  today  is  firmly 
established  and  admired  in  both  America  and  England  as  one 
of  the  most  useful  as  well  as  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  our 
Standard  breeds. 

It  was  also  in  1884  that  English  fanciers  became  interested 
in  Silver  Wyandottes,  starting  with  foundation  stock  that  was 
anything  but  reliable  for  breeding  purposes,  but  careful  selec- 
tion over  a  period  of  years  resulted  in  a  greatly  improved 
breed,  especially  in  the  color  markings,  the  laced  feathers  of 
English  Wyandottes  showing  much  larger  white  centers  and 
narrower  black  lacing  than  those  found  in  American  bred  spec- 
imens in  the  reconstruction  period  of  the  breed. 

Farsighted  breeders  of  Silver  Wyandottes  in  this  country 
were  not  slow  to  take  advantage  of  the  superior  lacing  of  the 
English  Wyandottes,  and  the  blood  of  the  latter  blended  with 
that  of  the  American  Wyandotte  played  an  important  part  in 
the  development  of  the  Standard  Silver  Wyandotte  of  today. 
There  were  many  obstacles  to  overcome  at  first,  for  the  Eng- 
lish Wyandotte,  while  beautiful  on  the  surface  lacing  of  the 


86  AMEUICAN   POVLTRY    ASSOCIATIOX 

breast,  wing-bow  ami  l)ack  of  Icnialcs  and  l)rcast.  tliigiis  and 
wing-bars  of  males,  failed  in  the  neck  and  wing  ctdor,  and 
did  not  ai)i)r()ach  the  American  Standard  ideal  in  type.  In  fact, 
the  lack  of  typical  shai)e  and  the  possession  of  large,  beefy  and 
irregular  rose  combs  were  very  serious  faults  which  took  years 
of  careful  mating  and  breeding  to  overcome. 

Early  Illustrations  of  Wyandottes. — Among  the  numerous 
wood-cut  illustrations  of  .siKxr  W  yandottes  that  appeared  in 
poultry  journals  shortly  after  the  breed  was  admitted  to  the 
Standard,  those  delineated  by  Pierce.  Keller  and  Lee  were 
representative  of  the  ideals  favored  by  breeders  twenty-iivc  to 

FIGURE  33. 


THE  PIERCE  TYPE  OF  SILVER  WYANDOTTES,  1886. 

The  above  illustration  reproduced  from  an  old  print  was  executed  by 
the  late  B.  N.  Pierce,  one  of  tlie  most  competent  judges  of  poultry  in  his 
day,  and  an  artist  who  thoroughly  understood  how  to  delineate  the  stand- 
ard characteristics  of  a  breed  or  variety  of  fowl.  In  color  and  lacing  the 
Pierce  ideals  were  far  in  advance  of  the  breed  as  seen  in  showrooms  or 
breeding  yards  at  that  early  day. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  87 

thirty  years  ago.  The  "Pierce  type"  (See  Fig.  33),  however, 
shows  more  correctly  the  shape  lines  of  the  Wyandotte,  justly 
called  the  "bird  of  curves,"  the  female  especially  representing 
a  very  typical  Wyandotte  of  that  period  (1886),  one  that 
would  prove  acceptable  in  type  to  Silver  Wyandotte  breeders 
of  the  present  time. 

First  Wyandotte  Standard  1883. — In  the  proceedings  of  the 
Ninth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  American  Poultry  Association 
held  at  Worcester,  Mass.,  January  31st,  1883,  the  following 
reference  to  the  admission  of  Wyandottes  appeared  on  page 
21: 

"On  the  so-called  American  Sebright  variety,  the  Committee  reported 
in  favor  of  their  admission  and  recommended  that  a  committee  be  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  a  Standard  to  be  represented  at  the  next  session  of  the 
American  Poultry  Association  and  that  the  name  of  the  breed  be 
'Wyandottes.'  The  report  was  adopted  and  the  following  committee 
appointed  to  prepare  the  Standard :  F.  A.  Houdlette,  G.  D.  Millington 
and  Rev.  D.  D.  Bishop." 

Mr.  Houdlette  submitted  the  report  of  the  Committee  on 
Wyandottes  the  following  day  and  it  was  accepted,  so  that 
the  first  Wyandotte  Standard  was  adopted  by  the  American 
Poultry  Association  in  1883,  with  the  following  disqualifica- 
tions :  Birds  not  matching  in  the  show-pen ;  combs  other  than 
rose  or  falling  to  either  side ;  crooked  backs ;  deformed  beaks ; 
wry  tails ;  twisted  feathers  in  wings  or  tail ;  shanks  feathered 
or  in  color  other  than  yellow ;  solid  black  or  white  breasts ; 
solid  white  or  yellow  ear-lobes. 

The  Standard  weights  adopted  were :  Cocks,  eight  and  one- 
half  pounds;  cockerels,  seven  and  one-half  pounds;  hens,  six 
and  one-half  pounds ;  pullets,  five  and  one-half  pounds. 

The  description  of  the  form  of  lacing  adopted  and  described 
in  the  1883  "Standard  for  breast  and  body  of  the  cock  read  as 
follows :  "Plumage  under-color,  slate ;  web  of  feather,  black 
with  medium-sized  white  centers,  which  taper  to  a  point  near 
the  extremity.  Body,  under-color  slate ;  web  of  feathers 
black,  slightly  frosted  with  white."  The  wing-coverts  forming 
the  bar  in  males  was  described  as  "nearly  white  with  a  black 
stripe  through  the  center  that  widens  near  the  point  of  the 
feather,  producing  a  double-spangled  bar  across  the  wing." 
The  plumage  of  the  hen  was  described  as  follows :  "Back,  web 
of  feathers  black,  with  small  white  centers;  cushion,  full; 
under-color,  dark  slate ;  web  of  feathers,  black  with  white  cen- 
ters, the  white  may  be  more   or  less  penciled   with   black." 


88 


.1  MEltK 'A  S    POVLTR Y    ASHOVIA  TIO\ 


WYANDOTTE  8TAXDARD  AXD   BREED  BOOK  89 

Breast  and  body-color  description  read:  "Breast  plumage  in 
under-color,  slate ;  web,  white,  each  feather  distinctly  and 
evenly  laced  with  black ;  body  under-color,  slate ;  web  of  feath- 
ers, black,  with  narrow  white  center  running  into  black, 
frosted  with  white  near  the  thighs." 

Wing  color  of  females  was  as  follows :  "Primaries  black, 
with  lower  edge  laced  with  white;  secondaries  black,  inside 
web  and  round  tip  of  feather;  outer  web,  white  with  narrow 
stripe  of  black  along  shaft  of  feather;  wing  and  shoulder 
coverts,  dark  slate  under-color,  with  web  white,  heavily  laced 
with  black — the  black  lacing  growing  wider  over  the  wing- 
bow,  the  white  centers  may  be  slightly  penciled  with  black." 

The  color  of  the  tail  coverts  is  described  as:  "Web  of 
feather  black  with  small,  white  centers,  which  may  be  slightly 
penciled  with  black";  while  that  of  thighs  is:  "Black,  pow- 
dered with  white." 

The  color  of  neck  in  males  is  described  as :  "Silver-white, 
with  black  stripe  through  the  center  of  the  feather  which 
tapers  to  a  point  near  the  extremity"  ;  while  that  of  the  back  is  : 
"Silvery,  with  saddle  white  with  a  black  stripe  through  the 
center."  The  neck  hackle  of  the  female  is  described  as:  "Sil- 
very, with  black  stripe  through  the  center  of  the  feather,  taper- 
ing to  a  point  near  the  extremity." 

The  above  Standard  color  descriptions,  crude  and  incom- 
plete as  they  will  appear  today,  started  the  American  Sebright 
under  its  new  name  "Wyandottes"  on  its  long,  eventful  and 
prosperous  career,  establishing  it  as  one  of  the  most  popular 
l)reeds  bred  in  the  world  today. 

The  Lee  Wyandotte  Type  as  delineated  in  the  outline  illus- 
trations which  appeared  in  the  "Obsolete  Edition"  of  the 
American  Standard  of  Excellence  of  1888  fairly  represented 
the  so-called  "Lee  Type"  of  Wyandotte  shape,  lacking  the 
fullness  or  blockiness  of  the  "Pierce  Type." 

Wyandotte  Standard  of  1888. — When  the  American 
Standard  ui  Excellence  was  revised  at  the  Buffalo,  New  York, 
meeting  of  the  American  Poultry  Association,  the  outline 
illustrations  which  appeared  in  the  first  edition  created  such 
opposition  among  the  members  present  that  they  were  voted 
out  of  the  Standard  and  all  copies  containing  these  outline 
sketches  were  marked  "Obsolete  Edition."  They  were  cari- 
catures of  Standard  breeds  which  never  should  have  been  per- 
mitted to  appear  in  the  Standard  in  the  first  place. 

The  ultra-fashionable  type  favored  by  several   prominent 


90  AMElilCAN   POULTRY   ASSOVIATIOX 

breeders  in  1888  is  striking^ly  illustrated  in  the  highly  idealized 
engra\ing-.  Fig.  34.  In  the  tenth  edition  of  the  Standard  ( 1886) 
the  following  changes  were  made  under  disqualifications: 

"The  words  'or  tail'  after  'twisted  feathers  in  wings'  were  cut  out, 
and  after  the  words  'other  tlian  yellow'  was  ad<ied,  'except  in  hens  which 
may  be  faded  from  yellow.'  Under  HACKLE  (cock)  the  words  'at,  or' 
were  inserted  after  the  words   'which  tapers   to  a  point.' " 

The  shape  and  color  changes  made  at  the  same  time  were: 

"Under  BACK  (cock)  color  was  changed  to  'silvery  white.'  Under 
PRIMARIES  (cock)  the  description  was  made  to  read:  'Primaries,  black 
on  inside  weh,  the  outer  web  having  a  narrow  white  lacing.'  Under 
SPXOXDARIES  (cock)  the  word  'web'  was  sul)stituted  for  the  word 
'edge.'  Under  TAIL  (cock)  the  words  'carried  toleraldy  upright'  were 
inserted  after  'well  spread  at  base.'  Under  TAIL  (hen)  the  words  'and 
carried  moderately  upright'   were  inserted  after  'wide  spread  at  base.' " 

But  it  was  at  the  Thirteenth  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Amer- 
ican Poultry  Association,  held  at  Indianapolis  in  January, 
1888,  that  the  text  of  the  Wyandotte  Standard  was  thoroughly 
revised,  and  in  our  opinion,  marked  an  important  epoch  in  Sil- 
ver Wyandotte  history.  The  committee  on  Wyandottes  was 
composed  of  F.  A.  Houdlette,  I.  K.  Felch,  B.  N.  Pierce  and 
Frank  M.  Cory.  Mr.  Pierce  submitted  the  report  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Standards  for  Wyandottes  which  was  adoi)ted  and 
referred  to  the  editing  committee,  after  a  decision  to  change 
the  name  to  Silver  Wyandottes  and  the  spelling  of  the  word 
Wyandotte  to  W-y-a-n-d-o-t.  The  motion  to  change  the  name 
was  carried,  the  spelling  lost. 

White  and  Golden  Wyandottes  Admitted  to  Standard. — 
The  Standard  Wyandotte  Committee  at  this  meeting  was  also 
instructed  to  select  the  outlines  for  the  breed.  The  motion  to 
admit  White  Wyandottes  and  Golden  Wyandottes  to  the 
Standard  as  new  varieties  was  adopted,  and  it  was  decided 
that  the  Standard  for  the  above  two  varieties  be  the  same  as 
the  one  for  Silvers,  except  in  the  matter  of  color.  We  quote 
the  following  from  a  report  published  at  that  time : 

"A  number  of  changes  were  made  in  the  Silver  Wyandotte  Standard. 
To  the  list  of  disqualifications  was  added :  '.-Kny  feather  on  shanks  or 
toes,  combs  so  i.^rge  as  to  obstruct  the  sight,  solid  white  breast.'  The 
word  'permanent'  was  substituted  for  'solid'  in  connection  with  white  or 
yellow  in  ear  lobes,  and  the  words,  'covering  more  than  one-third  the 
surface'  added.  'Wry  tails'  became  'decidedly  wry.'  The  words  'birds  not 
matching  in  the  show  pen,  and  'twisted   feathers  in  wings'   were  cut  out. 

"In  tlie  description  of  the  male  tlic  word  'dark'  was  added  to  the 
color  of  the  l)eak  and  it  was  decided  that  the  entire  coml)  and  spike 
'must  curve  slightly  to  conform  to  the   shape  of  the  skull.'     The  words 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  91 

'breast  bone  straight'  were  omitted  from  description  of  breast  but  the 
words  'keel  bone  straight'  were  added  to  the  description  of  the  body. 

"The  description  of  the  wings  was  made  to  read  as  follows :  'Of 
medium  size,  well  folded : — Primaries,  black,  with  lower  or  outer  web 
edged  with  white: — Secondaries,  black,  with  the  lower  or  outer  half  of 
the  lower  web  white :— WING  and  SHOULDER  COVERTS,  under-color 
dark  slate,  web  white,  heavily  laced  with  black,  the  black  lacing  growing 
wider  over  the  wing-bow.' 

"The  LESSER  TAIL  COVERTS  should  be  'black,  or  black  with 
white  centers.'  The  soft  feathers  on  THIGHS  were  described  as  'black, 
or  black  powdered  with  gray.' 

"In  the  description  of  the  female  the  word  'dark'  was  also  added  to 
color  of  beak,  the  color  of  hackle  was  to  be  'silvery  white,'  the  back 
'slightly  cushioned,  plumage  abundant,  web  of  feather  black  with  small 
white  centers  and  free  from  outside  while  lacing.'  The  only  change  in 
plumage  of  body  was  the  insertion  of  the  words  'or  black'  before  the 
words  'frosted  with  white  near  the  thighs.' 

"The  description  of  the  wings  was  changed  to  the  following: 
'PRIMARIES,  black  with  lower  or  outer  web  edged  with  white: — SEC- 
ONDARIES, black  with  the  lower  or  outer  half  of  the  lower  web  white: 


FIGURE  35. 


THE  LEE  TYPE  OF  WYANDOTTES. 

The  above  sketches,  drawn  by  Lee  in  1888  and  published  in  the  book 
"Philosophy  of  Judging"  in  1889,  illustrate  the  accepted  Wyandotte  type 
of  that  period. 


92  AMERICAN  POULTRY   ASSOCIATIOX 

—WING  and  SHOULDER  CO\ERTS,  under-color  dark  slate,  web 
white,  heavily  laced  with  black,  the  black  lacing  growing  wider  over  the 
wing-bow.'  The  description  of  tail  coverts  now  reads:  'GREATER 
COVERTS  black:— LESSER  CO\ERTS,  black  or  black  with  white  cen- 
ters.' The  feathering  on  thighs  is  ti)  be  'black,  or  black  powdered  with 
gray.' 

"Tiie  standard  for  Golden  and  W  liitc  W  yandottes  is  the  same  as  for 
the  laced  variety,  barring,  (if  course,  the  color.  'A  solid  golden  bay 
breast'  was  made  a  (lis(iualirication  in  Goldens,  'feathers  otiier  than  white 
in  any  part  of  the  plumage'  one  in  Whites.  In  the  descrii)tion  of  the 
Golden  Wyandotte  plumage  tiie  word  'Golden  liay'  should  l)e  substituted 
for  'white'  in  liead,  neck.  l)reast,  primaries,  secondaries  and  wing  coverts; 
the  words  'reddish  bay'  in  back,  Ixxiy  and  wing-l)Ows,  shoulder-coverts 
and  tail  coverts.  The  fluff  siiould  l)e  'dark  slate  tinged  with  yellow,'  the 
soft  feathers  on  thighs  'black,  tinged  with  yellow.' 

"In  tlie  female  the  color  in  head  description  calls  for  a  'golden  bay' 
in  neck.  l)reast,  body,  primaries,  secondaries,  wing  and  slioulder  coverts, 
and  lesser  tail  coverts  for  a  rich  yellow.'  Fluff  and  thigh  coloring  the 
same  as  in  male. 

"Our  comments  on  tiie  revised  Standard  of  \SHH  were  pul)lisiied  in 
the  Poultry  Bulletin,  at  the  time,  as  follows : 

"  'It  was  with  no  little  interest  we  read  the  new  Standard  on  Wyan- 
dottes.  Although  not  differing  greatly  from  the  old  one,  the  new  Standard 
contains  several  important  changes.  One  of  the  disqualifications  in  the 
old  Standard  of  \Vyandottes  was  a  solid  white  car-lobe ;  in  the  new 
Standard  the  ear-lol)e  must  now  show  more  than  one-third  white.  This 
is  as  it  should  be.  A  white,  or  half  white,  car-lobe  is  decidedly  bad.  The 
breast  is  a  section  l)y  itself,  and  it  is  valued  at  ten  point.s — body  and  fluff 
being  combined  with  a  value  of  eight  points.  This  makes  a  cut  in  breast 
count  certainly  two  points  more  than  formerly.  Breast  is  ten  points,  five 
for  color  and  five  for  shape.  Solid  black  breasts  are  not  disqualified 
hereafter.  A  good  full  breast  in  a  Wyandotte  is  of  the  greatest  conse- 
quence. A  narrow  or  flat  I)reast  is  bad.  The  breed,  handsome  as  it  is, 
claims  utility  a  twin  feature.  It  is  a  table  fowl  when  well  bred — equal  to 
the  best.  A  good  tal)le  fowl  shouhl  have  a  large  full  Itreast.  and  nothing 
brings  out  the  fine  and  beautiful  lacing  of  a  Wyandotte  l)etter  than  such  a 
breast.  The  wings  of  the  Wyandotte  retain  the  same  luimber  of  points, 
four  for  color  and  four  for  shape.  Over  fifty  per  cent  of  the  Wyandottes 
bred  have  too  small  wings  and  carry  them  too  liigh.  A  large  wing,  show- 
ing the  secondaries  well  developed,  would  add  l)eauty  and  utility  to  the 
bird.    A  large-winged  bird  is  apt  to  have  good  breast  development.' 

"Another  point  xcr  tinsh  to  call  attention,  to  is  the  li'ing-bar.  It  is  of 
the  same  description  as  in  the  old  Standard,  and  compels  the  judge  to 
score  the  feathers  that  make  the  bar  as  spangled  feathers.  Having  handled 
many  Wyandottes  in  the  past.  7iv  find  the  best  males  for  breeding  have 
heavily  laced  feathers  timt  muke  a  handsome  bar.  The  Zinng  fronts  and 
even  under-zvings  have  nicely  laced  feathers.  They  are  u'hat  some  call 
'pullet'  breeders.  So  -u-hy  should  it  be  required  that  just  one  set  of  feathers 
that  have  but  a  color  value  of  one  or  two  points  be  spangled,  zvhen  all 
other  feathers  are  to  be  laced/ 

"The  back  receives  more  attention,  and  no  penciling  is  admissible, 
but  white  edging  is  made  a  severe  cut.  This  is  an  imi)rovement.  but  we 
hope  our   judges   will   cut   this  penciling  or   moss-l)ack   plumage   severely. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  93 

It  has  been  the  weak  point  of  the  Wyandottes,  but  has  been  treated  with 
too  much  leniency  by  our  judges.  We  have  been  trying  to  breed  it  out 
and  have  not  succeeded  in  doing  so.  Other  breeders  have  done  the  same 
with  more  or  less  success.  It  must  be  done,  but  how?  A  friend  who  has 
had  much  experience  and  given  much  thought  to  the  subject  never  bred 
from  pullets,  but  only  from  hens  that  moulted  out  clean  and  as  free  as 
possible  from  penciling.  This  reduced  his  flock  to  a  minimum,  but  he 
made  a  step  forward,  when  a  new  difficulty  presented  itself,  viz.,  he  could 
not  breed  too  close  and  wanted  new  blood.  He  wrote  to  us  for  a  cockerel 
that  would  breed  clean  and  well,  and  we  could  not  find  such  a  bird.  Every 
male  bird  that  we  examined  that  year  in  our  own  and  other  flocks,  no 
matter  how  well  he  looked  on  the  surface,  had  under  the  saddle  feathers 
plenty  of  feathers  that  showed  unmistakable  penciling.  Thus  we  see  the 
vital  importance  of  establishing  a  line  of  male  birds  that  are  to  a  certain 
extent  free  from  this  taint. 

"But,  Wyandotte  lireeders,  he  careful  to  breed  good  hens  also.  The 
old  law  that  color  comes  from  tlie  male  principally  is  not  always  applicable 
to  Wyandottes.  That  the  latter  are  improving,  no  one  questions,  but  the 
time  is  still  a  little  distant  when  male  birds  get  to  ninety-five  and  females 
to  ninety-six  points.  The  two  best  male  birds  we  saw  this  season  scored 
ninety-three  and  one-half  points  each.  The  best  female  was  a  hen  that 
should  have  scored  ninety-five  points  had  she  been  up  to  weight.  The 
best  pullet  scored  ninety-five  points.  This  is  under  the  old  Standard. 
We  are  aware  that  birds  have  been  scored  higher  than  this,  but  it  showed 
undue  leniency  on  the  part  of  the  judge  toward  a  breed  that  needs  severe 
cutting  to  teach  breeders  the  defects  and  to  remedy  them.  In  conclusion 
we  will  say  to  Wyandotte  fanciers,  carefully  select  well  developed  birds 
and  do  not  breed  narrow-breasted,  long-backed  specimens,  as  under  the 
new  Standard  such  birds  will  suffer  severely  if  honestly  judged. 

"Under-color  is  important,  and  should  be  a  slate  as  the  new  Standard 
requires ;  the  tail  proper  is  a  solid  black.  White  in  sickle  feathers,  if 
under  the  surface,  should  not  be  cut  severely.  Some  of  the  best  birds 
will  show  some  white  in  the  sickles.  //  all  these  little  details  are  re- 
garded. U'e  believe,  with  careful  management  and  mating,  the  Silver 
Wyandotte  will  attain  the  great  perfection  of  the  Silver  Sebright  Bantam. 
A  good  dark  pullet  of  the  latter,  with  a  solid  black  tail,  ci'tues  2'ery  near 
being  a  perfect  Wyandotte  color." 

The  italic  type  in  the  above  comments  is  used  to 
emphasize  the  fact  that  the  ideal  Silver  Wyandotte  in  color 
which  prevailed  at  the  time  was  a  bird  with  laced  feathers  of 
the  Silver  Sebright  type,  i.  e.,  what  the  most  enthusiastic 
admirers  of  the  breed  were  striving  to  attain.  It  also  goes  to 
show  that  the  Silver  Wyandotte  ideal  of  the  most  progressive 
breeders  and  fanciers  of  twenty  or  more  years  ago  is  but  a 
replica  of  the  ideal  of  the  present-day  fancier. 

It  was  in  1891  that  Silver  Wyandottes  "kept  coming  fast 
and  true,"  that  they  began  to  measure  up  to  the  ideal  of  per- 
severing breeders  and  admirers.  The  Silver  Wyandottes  at 
that  time  bred  as  true  to  feather  and  type  as  most  parti-colored 


94  AMERICAX   POVLTIiY   ASSOCIATION 

breeds  or  varieties.  The  chief  drawback  had  always  been  the 
mossing  or  penciling  of  the  white  centers,  in  the  feathers  of 
the  females,  which  was  especially  noticeable  in  the  hens.  A 
pullet,  often  a  perfect  picture  of  beautiful  lacing,  would,  when 
assuming  the  garb  of  hen-hood,  discourage  as  well  as  disgust 
her  owner  by  appearing  in  a  dingy  cloak  of  so-called  laced 
feathers.  Nine-tenths  of  this  trouble  was  due  to  the  fact  that 
pullets,  especially  dark  or  hcaxily-laced  ones,  where  bred  from 
such  a  pullet,  show  but  little  white  in  the  feathers  of  the  back. 
The  black  (so-called)  is  in  reality  a  disguised  blend  of  pencil- 
ing or  mossing.  The  ideal  Silver  Wyandotte  to  our  mind  was 
and  is  a  bird  laced  like  a  Sel)right  bantam.  To  produce  such 
color  markings,  we  must  use  Wyandotte  hens  having  clean 
white  centers  to  their  feathers.  We  remember  one  old  Wyan- 
dotte fancier  who  used  hens  only  that  had  molted  out  from 
pullet-hood  into  clean-centered,  laced  females,  and  he  struck 
the  right  line  of  breeding.  We  owned  one  of  his  hens  which, 
even  in  her  sixth  year,  barring  her  lack  in  shai)e.  would  have 
given  ninny  a  pullet  a  hard  run  for  llu-  honors  in  llie  shcnv- 
room. 

That  English  breeders  of  Wyandottes  favored  the  Sebright 
type  of  lacing  at  a  very  early  period  of  its  existence,  the  illus- 
trations appearing  in  the  poultry  journals  of  England  clearly 
indicate.  And  about  the  same  time.  American  breeders  began 
to  discard  the  so-called  dark  type  of  Wyandottes  and  favored 
a  more  open-laced  bird  in  color.  The  winning  s])ecimens  at 
English  shows  a])])ro;iclu'(l  tin-  Sebright  lacing  \ery  closely. 

Black  and  Buff  Wyandottes  Admitted  to  Standard. — In  the 
1894  edition  of  the  American  Standard  two  new  \arieties  were 
added  to  the  other  three  varieties,  viz..  Black  and  BufT 
Wyandottes.  The  latter  were  admitted  at  the  Chicago  meet- 
ing of  the  American  Poultry  Association  in  1893.  The  only 
changes  made  in  the  Wyandotte  Standard  were :  The  "one- 
third  white  in  ear-lobe"  was  changed  to  "solid  white."  Head 
plumage  in  the  Silver  male  was  made  to  read.  "Plumage  short, 
close;  in  color,  Silxer  ^^^lite.  with  a  black  stripe  extending  to 
a  fine  point."  To  the  description  of  ear-lobes  was  added. 
"White  in  ear-lojjes  being  a  serious  defect"  ;  in  the  saddle  the 
under-color  is  described  as  being  "dark  slate."  the  white  cen- 
ters of  the  breast  as  being  "large."  and  the  shanks  to  be  free 
from  "stubs"  as  well  as  feathers.  In  the  neck  plumage  of  the 
female,  the  "shaft  of  the  feather  may  l)e  white."  the  i:)lumage  of 
the  back  to  be  "black  webbed  feathers  with  'niedium'   white 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED   BOOK  95 

centers";  the  breast  to  be  "broad,  deep  and  fully  developed," 
and  the  white  centers  on  the  breast  to  be  "large" — are  the  sig- 
nificant changes  made  in  the  color  markings,  indicating  clearly 
the  tendency  toward  the  open-laced  type  of  Silver  Wyandotte. 

The  only  changes  made  in  the  1898  edition  of  the  Standard 
called  for  "laced"  instead  of  "spangled"  feathers  on  the  wing- 
bar  of  laced  varieties,  and  the  words  "small  points"  added  to 
the  description  of  the  comb,  the  "points"  being  preferable  to 
"corrugations."  At  this  revision  of  the  Standard  the  first  good 
description  of  the  color  breeders  of  buff  varieties  were  striving 
to  obtain  was  adopted. 

Wyandotte  Illustrations,  1890  to  1900. — With  rapid  im- 
provement in  color  and  type  of  Silver  Wyandottes,  corre- 
sponding and  striking  advance  was  made  in  the  illustrative 
work  of  our  artists,  notably  that  of  Franklane  L.  Sewell,  who 
was  the  first  artist  in  this  country  to  portray  winning  speci- 
mens at  our  exhibitions  in  a  life-like  and  artistic  manner,  and 
it  was  indeed  a  fortunate  day  for  the  Silver  Wyandotte  when 
Mr.  Sewell's  brush  and  pen  illustrated  a  breed  he  was  deeply 
interested  in.  The  cockerels  at  New  York  in  1894  were  really  a 
fine  class,  the  winners  being  remarkable  not  only  for  their 
silvery  surface  color  on  hackles  and  saddles,  but  for  the  in- 
tensely black  stripe  in  the  feathers  of  same.  In  breast  plumage, 
however,  there  was  room  for  improvement,  although  some  that 
failed  to  get  a  place  were  far  better  in  this  respect  than  the 
winner,  but  lost  out  by  having  "washed  out"  hackle  and  saddle 
feathers,  a  common  fault  at  that  time  with  the  more  openly- 
laced  type  of  Wyandotte  males,  and  one  which  is  not  uncom- 
mon in  present  day  Standard  Silver  Wyandottes,  more  notably 
so  in  English-bred  specimens. 

It  was  in  1895  that  the  demand  for  large  white  centers 
became  insistent,  amounting  almost  to  a  craze  with  over- 
enthusiastic  fanciers  of  Silver  Wyandottes,  but  the  cooler 
heads  of  some  of  the  older  breeders  were  far  more  cautious  and 
called  attention  to  the  dangers  of  outcrossings  which  con- 
fronted the  breeders  who  were  trying  to  produce  these  open- 
laced  Silver  Wyandottes,  and  especially  males  having  finely 
striped  hackles  and  saddles,  with  breasts  and  wing-bars  of  the 
Sebright  form  of  lacing. 

The  late  F.  L.  Mattison,  who  bred  the  cockerel  that  won 
at  New  York  in  1894,  like  Irving  Crocker  and  Dr.  A,  T. 
Beckett,  was  one  of  the  cautious  breeders  who  had  been 
through  the  mill  of  experience  in  crossing  foreign  blood  with 


96  AMERICAN   POULTRY  ASSOCIATIOX 

his  own  foundation  blood.  He  succeeded  in  retaining:  the 
Wyandotte  shape  characteristics  of  the  breed,  and  produced 
improved  neck,  back  and  winp  plumage,  but  failed  to  produce 
the  large,  open  centers  on  the  breast  feathers  and  wing-coverts 
of  the  males. 

Irving  Crocker,  expert  breeder  and  judge  of  Wyandottes. 
in  February  of  1895,  wrote  us  on  this  subject  as  follows: 

"From  information  derived  from  correspondents  and  through  other 
sources  I  am  led  to  believe  that  the  practice  of  mating  to  secure  large 
white  centers  in  the  plumage  of  Silver  W  yandottes  is  in  danger  of  being 
overdone. 

"Many  fanciers  do  not  seem  to  understand  that  the  Standard  only 
requires  tlie  plumage  of  the  breast  to  have  large  centers,  while  that  of 
the  back  should  have  medium  ones,  but  endeavor  to  breed  large  centers 
on  back  and  Iireast.  Following  this  mistaken  idea,  they  are  entailing 
defects  upon  the  breed  that  will  prove  a  barrier  to  its  progress,  from 
the  fancier's  standpoint,  and  a  misfortune  to  them  as  breeders. 

"In  the  first  place,  large  centers  on  the  back  will  carry  with  them  the 
imperfect  laced  feathers  on  the  breast.  This  defect  is  often  covered  up 
by  the  overlapping  plumage,  it  is  true,  but  it  is  none  the  less  a  serious 
defect.  Again,  from  sample  feathers  which  have  been  sent  me  and  from 
my  own  experience,  I  am  satisfied,  that  as  the  centers  are  enlarged  beyond 
a  certain  limit,  the  lustrous  black  lacing  gives  place  to  one  which,  even  if 
black,  is  dull  and  lifeless,  thereby  depriving  the  bird  of  one  of  its  distin- 
guishing marks  of  beauty. 

"Another  defect,  already  too  common,  but  which  is  destined  to  become 
more  firmly  fixed  if  this  system  of  breeding  is  carried  to  an  extreme,  is 
the  white  edge  so  often  run  on  the  black  lacing.  I  doubt  if  it  is  possible 
to  produce  large  white  centers  without  making  this  fault  more  prominent 
and  consequently  more  objectionable.  I  am  in  favor  of  the  Sebright  type, 
and  always  have  been,  luit  think  that  efforts  in  that  direction  should  be 
to  secure  a  clear  white  center,  instead  of  a  large  one.  To  be  more  definite 
I  should  say  that  the  w^hite  center  mierht  cover  from  one-half  to  one-third 
the  widtii  of  the  feather  and  that  this  nronortion  may  be  secured  with 
I)erfect  safetv  to  the  other  markings,  while  larger  centers  would  bring  with 
them  the  evils  mentioned." 

But  warnings  embodied  in  words  of  caution  to  breeders, 
such  as  Mr.  Crocker  spoke  and  wrote,  only  served  to  stim- 
ulate enthusiastic  fanciers  to  further  and  greater  effort>^  in 
breeding  Silver  Wyandottes  up  to  the  Sebright  form  of  lacing 
and  in  1898,  at  the  Boston  Show,  John  C.  Jodrcy  exhibited  the 
first  American  bred  Silver  Wyandotte  approaching  closely  the 
Sebright  ideal  in  color  markings.  Franklane  L.  Sewell 
sketched  this  forerunner  of  the  modern  female  Wyandotte 
from  life,  the  illustration  being  an  idealized  portrait  of  the 
bird.  The  latter  was  awarded  first  prize  in  the  pullet  class  of 
great  quality;  in  fact,  the  entire  Silver  Wyandotte  class  was 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED   BOOK  97 

magnificent.  Our  comments  on  this  pullet  at  the  time  were : 
"First  pullet  grand  in  style  and  shape,  lacing  open  and  regular 
on  back,  breast  and  wings.  Wing  primaries  and  tail,  black. 
The  finest  laced  specimen  I  have  yet  seen." 

We  should  have  added  that  the  tail  coverts  were  also 
laced,  a  feature,  we  believe,  which  should  be  encouraged  in  the 
Sebright  form  of  lacing  of  the  females. 

English  Silver  Wyandottes. — As  the  blood  of  English  Sil- 
ver Wyandottes  was  injected  into  several  noted  strains  of 
American  Wyandottes,  and  played  an  important  part  in  the 
development  of  the  larger  white-centered  and  more  narrowly 
laced  feathers,  the  history  of  the  origin  of  English  Wyan- 
dottes will  prove  interesting  as  well  as  surprising,  for  it  can 
be  told  in  very  few  words  and  these  are  by  J.  M.  Philipson, 
Haydon  Bridge,  Northumberland.  England,  who  on  June  27th, 
1916,  replied  to  our  quest  for  information  on  this  point,  as  fol- 
lows : 

"J.  H.  Drevenstedt,  Buffalo,  New  York,  U.  S.  A. 

"Dear  Sir :  I  am  in  receipt  of  your  letter  of  May  23rd,  for  whicli 
I  thank  you.  I  am  kept  very  busy  now,  owing  to  the  shortage  of  labor, 
caused  by  all  of  our  young  men  having  joined  the  army,  but  will  give  you 
a  short  history  of  the  Wyandottes. 

"I  have  very  few  feathers  of  the  early  Silvers  and  no  photos,  but 
am  making  inquiries  of  a  few  old  breeders  if  they  have  any.  I  can 
supply  you  with  up-to-date  feathers  of  the  very  best,  especially  from  show 
pullets  and  pullet-breeding  cocks.  I  will  also  send  feathers  from  our 
best  show  cocks  and  cock-breeding  hens ;  but  I  think  you  will  be  sur- 
prised to  learn  that  my  Silvers  were  bred  from  Silvers  imported  from 
America,  and  in  all  the  years  I  have  bred  them  no  outcrossing  of  any 
breed  has  been  produced  by  me — nothing  but  the  selection  of  the  best 
laced  and  most  vigorous  birds  has  been  used  by  me. 

"I  do  not  believe  that  any  Silver  Wyandotte  breeders  have  ever  been 
able  to  successfully  use  Silver  Sebright  blood  in  the  making  of  Wyandottes. 
"Yours  very  truly, 

"(Signed)    J.    M.    PHILIPSON." 

As  it  was  Mr.  Philipson  who  sent  over  English  Wyan- 
dottes to  be  bred  and  amalgamated  with  several  Eastern 
strains  of  Silvers  in  this  country,  it  will  be  gratifying  to  all 
admirers  of  the  breed  that  no  foreign  blood  was  introduced  in 
the  birds  across  the  sea. 

It  was  John  C.  Jodrey  of  Massachusetts  and  F.  L.  Mattison 
who  were  among  the  first  American  breeders  to  become  inter- 
ested in  and  to  introduce  the  English  Wyandotte  blood  into 
their  strains  of  American-bred  Silver  Wyandottes.  Breeders 
in  other  parts  of  the  country  followed  suit,  and  the  results 


98  AMKHIVAX    I'Ol  LTHY    ASSOCIATION 

olitaincd  from  this  infusion  of  foreign  blood  Ijccame  evident  in 
a  comparatively  short  period  following  its  introducton,  as  the 
exhibits  of  Silver  Wyandottes  at  the  New  York,  Boston  and 
Canadian  shows  strikingly  illustrated. 

It  was  the  aim  of  our  fanciers  to  produce  the  "open-lacing" 
or  more  generally  referred  to  "Sebright  form  of  color  mark- 
ings" of  the  laced  feathers.  Personally,  while  we  favored  the 
oj)en-laced  or  Sebright  form  of  lacing,  we  think  that  the  latter 
is  hardly  the  correct  ideal  for  Wyandotte  breeders  to  strive  for  ; 
believing  the  conformation  of  the  Silver  Polish  laced 
feathers  to  be  nearer  the  correct  ideal  to  breed  to. 

Lacing  Improved  by  English  Wyandotte  Blood. — That  the 
intr()(luctit)n  of  the  blood  of  the  l",nglisli  Silver  Wyandotte  has 
improved  the  lacing  of  the  American  variety  to  a  noticeable 
degree,  is  the  belief  of  many  experienced  breeders  of  Silver 
Wyandottes  in  this  country.  John  C.  Jodfrey  claims  that  the 
English  Silver  has  given  us  the  uniformity  in  lacing  that  is 
seen  in  our  best  birds  and  has.  in  a  marked  degree,  improved 
the  female  side  of  the  Silver  W^yandotte.  R.  G.  Williams  says 
it  has  helped  out  the  females  and  possibly  the  males  also.  J. 
F.  Van  Alstyne  expresses  the  opinion  that  it  has  improved  the 
lacing  very  much,  but  Henry  Steinmesch  states  that  while  the 
introduction  of  English  blood  has  been  beneficial  in  showing 
American  breeders  the  large  white  centers  and  double  wing- 
bar,  good  top  color — driving  out  the  old-fashioned  sj)angled- 
wing.  bronze  or  copper  top  color — it  has  been  detrimental  in 
this :  that  the  black  lacing  will  not  hold  its  color,  the  extremely 
large,  white  centers  being  too  thinly  surrounded  by  the  kind  of 
black  lacing  which  will  hold  color.  This  o]:)inion.  however, 
was  expressed  over  five  years  ago.  since  which  this  defect  has 
been  overcome  to  a  great  extent. 

The  late  Sharp  Butterfield.  one  of  the  keenest  judges  of  his 
day,  stated  that  English  Silver  Wyandotte  blood  was  respon- 
sible for  a  better  outward  appearance.  W.  E.  Samson  is  of  the 
same  opinion.  In  1910  we  wrote  to  Mr.  F.  A.  Houdlette  (the 
pioneer  introducer  of  the  American  Wyandotte)  for  his  ^^alued 
opinion  on  this  infusion  of  English  Wyandotte  blood  into 
American-bred  I)ir(ls.  and  received  the  following  reply: 

"The  1)1(11x1  of  the  Kn,L;lish  .Silver  Wyaiulottes  has  improved  the  lacing 
of  the  l)ir(l  immensely,  hut  they  pay  very  little  attention  to  shape  or  to  ee;g 
production,  either  shape  or  color,  or  to  the  under-color.  If  I  were  a  judge 
I  should  not  cut  a  hird  or  throw  it  out  if  it  had  white  under-color,  hecause 
some  fanciers  hreed  in  that  line  and  get  the  surface  color  all  right,  and 
I  really  think  if  they  were  white  under-color  instead  of  slate,  we  would 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  99 

get  less  of  the  brassiness  when  they  come  to  be  exposed  to  the  sun.  How- 
ever, it  is  just  about  as  easy  to  breed  them  with  the  slate  as  with  the 
white.  I  should  not  discard  a  good  bird  if  white  ;  that  is  the  idea  I  wish 
to  express." — Fred  A.  Houdlette. 

Mr.  Houdlette's  views  on  under-color  are  shared  by  many 
other  breeders  of  Silver  Wyandottes,  they  justly  believing 
color  markings  being  of  far  more  importance  thaii  slate  under- 
color in  the  latter. 

In  view  of  the  fact,  as  stated  by  Mr.  Philipson,  that  the 
English  Silver  Wyandottes  bred  by  him  descended  from  pure- 
blooded  American  birds,  the  introduction  of  the  so-called  Eng- 
lish Wyandotte  blood  into  American  strains  of  the  breed  is  of 
far  greater  benefit  in  establishing  the  fixed  color  markings  than 
if  a  different  outcross  had  been  made  with  English  Wyan- 
dottes which  had  but  a  small  proportion  of  the  American 
blood.  It  also  illustrates  striking  object  lessons  in  the  selec- 
tion mating  of  the  sire  and  dam  from  the  crude  foundation 
stock,  refining  the  product  generation  after  generation  until 
the  much-desired  and  admired  form  of  laced  feathers  have  been 
firmly  established. 

Shape  and  Color  Changes,  Wyandotte  Standard  1898.— At 
the  1898  meeting  of  the  American  Poultry  Association,  held  at 
Boston,  comparatively  few  changes  of  importance  were  made 
in  the  Silver  A¥yandotte  Standard.  The  feathers  of  the  wing- 
bar  or  wing-coverts  were  described  as  "laced"  instead  of 
"spangled,"  and  the  words  "small  points"  were  substituted  for 
"corrugations"  in  the  description  of  the  comb.  At  the  same 
meeting,  a  definite  understanding  on  the  subject  of  buff  color 
was  reached,  and  the  following  standard  description  was 
adopted : 

"Surface  color  throughout,  one  even  shade  of  rich  golden  buff,  free 
from  shafting  or  mealy  appearance  ;  the  head,  neck,  hackle,  back,  wing- 
bows  and  saddle  richly  glossed  with  a  metallic  lustre.  Under-color,  a 
lighter  shade,  as  free  as  possible  from  all  foreign  color.  Other  things 
being  equal,  the  specimen  showing  the  richest  under-color  shall  receive 
the  preference.  Black  or  white  showing  in  wings  or  tail  shall  be  con- 
sidered alike  objectionable.  Specimens  showing  different  shades  of  buff 
in  neck,  wings  or  breast,  or  in  two  or  more  of  these  sections  on  either 
male  or  female,  shall  be  considered  a  serious  defect.  One  harmonious 
blending  of  buff  in  all  sections  is  most  desirable." 

Partridge  Wyandottes  Admitted  to  Standard  1901.— At  the 

Chicago  meeting  of  the  American  Poultry  Association,  1901, 
the  Partridge  W^yandotte  variety  was  admitted  to  the  Stand- 
ard on  petition  presented  by  the  Partridge  Wyandotte  Club. 


100  AMERICAN   POULTRY    AS.^OCIATION 

the  typical  shape  to  conform  to  that  of  the  other  Wyandottes, 
and  the  color  markings  to  be  described  as  for  Partridge 
Cochins.  A  committee  was  also  appointed  at  the  meeting  to 
correct  omissions  in  the  Buff  Wyandotte  Standard,  and  the 
following  was  added  to  the  description  of  the  \  ariety  :  "Color 
of  legs  and  beak,  yellow ;  eyes,  bright  bay." 

Silver  Penciled  Wyandottes  Admitted  to  Standard. — At  the 
twenty-sixth  Annu;il  Mcetini;  ot'  llu'  Anu-rican  I'dultry  .Asso- 
ciation, held  at  Ilagerstuwn.  Maryland.  (  )ctol)er.  1902.  Silver 
Penciled  Wyandottes  were  admitted  to  the  Standard,  the  color 
markings  to  be  described  the  same  as  those  of  the  Dark 
Brahma,  the  shape  and  size  to  conform  to  the  Wyandotte 
breed  description. 

First  Standard  Illustrations  of  Wyandottes. — At  the  twen- 
ty-eighth Annual  Meeting  of  the  .Vmerican  Poultry  Associa- 
tion, held  at  Rochester,  New  York,  1904.  after  a  thorough  dis- 
cussion and  numerous  criticisms,  the  outlines  delineating  the 
correct  shape  of  the  Wyandottes  were  adopted.  These  out- 
lines of  the  male  and  the  female  were  sent  to  the  artist  with 
instructions  to  follow  same  in  completing  the  illustrations  of 
the  different  varieties  of  Wyandottes.  These  comi)leted  ilhu- 
trations  were  then  submitted  for  approval  to  the  committee  of 
five  appointed  at  the  Rochester  meeting,  and  after  suggesting 
minor  changes,  which  w^ere  made,  the  drawings  were  adopted 
and  published  in  the  1905  American  Standard  of  Perfection. 
In  addition  to  numerous  changes  in  the  ^^''yandotte  Standard, 
the  illustrated  edition  also  contained  a  short  description  of  the 
origin  and  history  of  the  breed. 

Changes  in  Wyandotte  Standard,  1904. — The  changes  in 
Standard  made  for  both  male  and  female  were  as  follows:  The 
word  "short"  was  added  to  the  description  of  beak,  eyes  were 
to  be  "medium  size,  oval ;"  surface  of  comb  was  to  be  "cov- 
ered with  small  rounded  points."  (corrugations  being  cut  out)  ; 
ear-lobes  were  to  be  "oblong  in  shai")e" ;  breast  was  to  be 
"broad,  deep,  round,  with  low-set  keel  ;"  wings  were  to  be 
"small ;"  thighs  "showing  outline  of  shape  when  viewed  side- 
ways ;"  shanks  "short,  set  well  apart  at  knee-joints,  strong  and 
well-rounded." 

The  tail  of  the  male  was  to  be  carried  "at  the  angle  of 
fifty  degrees  from  the  horizontal ;"  coverts  to  be  "abundant, 
filling  out  well  in  front,  almost  hiding  the  stilT  feathers."  The 
word  "round"  was  added  to  description  of  head  in  female ;  the 
back  was  to   rise  "in  a  concave  sweep  to  a  broad,   slightly- 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  101 

rounded  cushion,  which  extends  to  tail  coverts,"  and  the  tail 
to  be  "short,  well  spread  at  base,  carried  at  an  angle  of  forty 
degrees  from  the  horizontal." 

The  color  of  the  eye  was  the  subject  of  much  discussion 
and  the  description  "bright  red  or  bay"  was  adopted  for  the 
new  Standard  in  all  varieties. 

The  qualifications  in  Silver  Wyandottes  were  changed  to 
the  following:  "Ear-lobes  more  than  one-half  positive  white; 
shanks  other  than  yellow."  Better  descriptions  were  substi- 
tuted in  many  sections. 

The  following  color  description  for  Silver  Wyandottes  was 
given  for  breast  in  male,  and  back  and  breast  in  female :  "Web 
of  feathers  black,  with  large,  oval-shaped  white  centers,  free 
from  black  or  brown,  black  lacing  sharply  defined  and  free 
from  white  edging,  under-color  slate."  In  the  description  of 
flufif  of  male  and  female  the  following  was  added:  "Laced 
feathers  desirable,  under-color  dark  slate."  Descriptions  of 
wings  in  both  male  and  female  were  changed  to  read  as  fol- 
lows:  "Primaries  black,  lower  edge  white;  secondaries  black, 
lower  half  of  outer  web  white,  with  a  narrow  black  edging, 
wider  at  tip."  Under-color  in  wing-bows  was  changed  to  "dark 
slate";  thighs  to  "black  or  dark  slate,  powdered  with  gray; 
laced  feathers  desirable."  In  the  description  of  the  female, 
the  word  "narrow"  was  omitted  in  speaking  of  the  white  cen- 
ters of  the  lesser  tail  coverts. 

The  description  of  the  color  markings  of  Golden  Wyan- 
dottes was  the  same  as  that  for  the  Silver  variety,  except  that 
"golden-bay"  for  "white" ;  "powdered  with  golden-bay"  for 
"powdered  with  gray"  in  thighs  and  fluff,  and  "dark  slate  or 
dark  slate  powdered  with  golden-bay  in  under-color,"  were 
substituted. 

To  the  disqualifications  of  White  Wyandottes  was  added: 
"Red,  buff  or  positive  black  in  any  part  of  the  plumage" ;  the 
feathers  were  to  be  "pure  white,  quills  and  shafts  included." 

The  following  disqualification  was  added  to  the  Black 
Wyandotte  Standard:  "White  or  red  in  any  part  of  plumage 
extending  more  than  one-half  inch." 

To  the  description  of  color  for  Buff  Wyandottes  was 
added:  "Face  bright  red,  comb,  wattles  and  ear-lobes  bright 
red,  shanks  and  toes  yellow." 

In  Partridge  Wyandottes  under-color  was  changed  in  all 
sections  from  "slate"  to  "dark  slate."  The  breast  of  the  male 
was  described  to  be  a  "glossy"  black  and  a  "red  shaft"  was  to 


102  AMiJJilVAX    POULTRY    AS.SOClATlUN 

be  "allowable"  in  saddle  feathers.  Change  in  description  of 
wings  was  made  as  follows:  "Primaries,  black;  lower  edge 
red ;  secondaries  black,  the  outside  web  red,  terminating  with 
black  at  end  of  each  feather."  In  the  female,  "penciling  in 
central  portion  of  feathers  allowable"  was  added  to  description 
of  wing;  the  penciling  in  back  and  breast  was  to  be  "dark 
brown"  not  "black  i;r  dark  brown."  as  before.  The  word  "ir- 
regularly" was  omitted  before  "penciled  with  a  darker  brown" 
in  describing  body  and  fluff.  I'o  the  description  c^f  tail  was 
added:  "'J'he  two  highest  main  tail  feathers  penciled  with  red- 
dish brown." 

The  under-color  of  Silver  Penciled  Wyandottes  was 
changed  to  "dark  slate"  instead  of  "dark  slate  or  gray"  in  all 
sections  where  it  appeared.  The  wings  of  the  male  bird  were 
described  as  follows:  "Primaries,  black,  lower  edge,  white; 
secondaries,  black,  outer  web.  white,  terminating  with  green- 
ish black  at  the  end  of  each  feather."  Thighs  were  to  be  "black, 
tinged  with  gray."  No  changes  were  made  in  the  color 
description  of  the  female.  exce])t  in  under-color  as  above 
stated. 

Columbian  Wyandottes  Admitted  to  Standard,  1906.— At 
the  Annual  Meeting  of  the  American  Poultry  Association  held 
at  Cincinnati.  Ohio,  190r).  Ci»lumbian  Wyandottes  were  ad- 
mitted to  the  Standard,  and  a  color  description  of  this  variety 
was  inserted  in  the  new  edition  of  the  illustrated  Standard, 
which  read  as  follows: 

"Disqualifications:  b"ar-lol)es  more  tiian  one-half  positive 
white;  solid  black  feathers  in  back;  shanks  other  than  yellow 
or  reddish  yellow. 

"Color  of  Male  and  Female:  Same  as  in  the  Light 
Brahmas.  except  that  the  color  of  beak  is  horn,  shading  to  yel- 
low at  the  point ;  and  that  black,  prevalent  in  web  of  feathers 
in  back  of  female  does  not  disqualify,  but  is  a  serious  defect." 

Standard  Wyandottes  in  1910. — The  changes  made  in  the 
Wyandotte  Standard  at  the  .\nnual  Meeting  of  the  American 
Poultry  Association  held  at  Niagara  Falls,  New  York,  August 
10,  11  and  12,  1909.  were  comparatively  few.  which  did  not 
materially  afifect  the  mating,  breeding  and  exhibiting  of  Wyan- 
dottes. More  value  was  given  to  shape  and  less  to  color,  which 
proved  beneficial  to  all  varieties  of  XVyandottes  and  more  i)ar- 
ticularly  so  to  the  White  \ariety. 

Disqualifications  remained  the  same,  except  that  "one- 
ciuarter  of  positive  enamel  white  in  ear-lobes"  took  the  place 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED   BOOK  103 

of  "ear-lobes  more  than  one-half  positive  white."  A  wise 
change,  as  it  prevents  judges  from  throwing  out  specimens 
showing  pale  lobes  approaching  white  caused  by  being  cooped 
in. 

In  the  male,  the  description  for  the  eyes  was  changed  from 
"medium  size,  oval"  to  "large,  oval,"  which  was  an  improve- 
ment, as  the  eye  of  a  Wyandotte  is  of  good  size  and  a  charac- 
teristic feature  of  the  breed.  Another  beneficial  change  made 
was  in  the  description  of  the  comb,  which  read:  "Rose,  low, 
firm  on  head ;  top,  oval  and  surface  covered  wtih  small, 
rounded  points,  tapering  to  a  well-defined  point  at  the  rear ; 
entire  comb  curving  to  conform  to  shape  of  skull."  This  did 
away  with  the  Hamburg  type  of  comb  and  its  large  spike. 

The  description  of  wattles  was  changed  to  read:  "Mod- 
erately long,  nicely  rounded  at  lower  edges,  ecjual  in  length, 
fine  in  texture,  free  from  folds  and  wrinkles."  A  clearer  idea 
of  ear-lobes  was  also  given  in  describing  them  as  "oblong, 
well-defined,  hanging  about  half  the  length  of  wattles, 
smooth,"  instead  of  "oblong  in  shape,  well-developed  and 
smooth." 

"Flowing  well  over  shoulders"  was  the  word  description 
added  to  "hackle  abundant"  in  the  neck,  while  "saddle  feath- 
ers abundant"  was  added  to  the  back  section. 

The  description  for  breast  remained  the  same,  except  that 
the  words  "with  low-set  keel"  were  omitted  and  placed  in  the 
body  section,  a  more  correct  definition,  as  the  keel  is  a  part  of 
the  body  and  not  of  the  breast. 

Description  for  wings  was  changed  to  read:  "Small,  not 
carried  too  close  to  body ;  sides  well  rounded,"  the  words  "to 
body"  being  added  to  the  old  description.  Personally,  we  should 
have  liked  to  see  large  wings  called  for,  as  they  usually  accom- 
pany a  broad,  deep,  round  breast,  but  in  the  modern  Wyan- 
dotte, especially  in  the  White  variety,  small  wings  have  been 
the  fashion. 

The  tail  description  remained  the  same,  except  that  sickles 
were  described  as  "moderately  long"  instead  "of  medium 
length." 

No  changes  were  made  in  the  description  of  legs  and  toes 
except  in  shanks  which  read :  "Shanks  and  toes,  free  from 
feathers,  stubs  and  down." 

In  the  shape  of  female,  the  sections  describing  eyes,  comb, 
breast,  body,  wings  and  legs  and  toes,  were  changed  to  con- 
form to  those  describing  the  shape  of  the  male.     The  back  of 


104  AMERICAN    POlLTIiY   ASSOCIATIOX 

the  female  was  described  as  follows:  "Short,  broad,  flat  at 
shoulders,  rising  in  a  concave  sweep  ttj  the  broad,  slightly 
rounded  cushion  which  extends  well  on  U)  main  tail ;  plumage, 
abundant."  The  change  consisted  in  substituting  the  words 
"well  on  to  main  tail"  for  "which  extends  to  tail  coverts."  This 
gave  a  clearer  definition  of  what  an  ideal  back  is  like,  as  the 
back  cushion  really  extends  beyond  the  juntcure  of  the  tail 
coverts  and  the  back. 

The  descriptions  for  standard  shape  in  Wyandotte  male 
and  female  in  the  1910  Standard  were  correctly,  briefly  and 
clearly  expressed  in  language  which  everyone  ctnild  readily 
understand. 

Color  changes  in  the  several  Wyandotte  varieties  were  con- 
fined to  the  elimination  of  superfluous  words,  making  the 
descriptions  of  the  feathers  of  laced  and  penciled  varieties  more 
technically  correct,  and  giving  to  under-color  a  less  arbitrary 
value. 

Silver  Wyandotte  Color  Changes. — In  Silver  Wyandotte 
males  and  females  eyes  were  described  as  "bay  or  reddish- 
bay,"  instead  of  "bright  red  or  bay,"  which  also  applied  to  all 
other  varieties,  except  the  Black.  Reddish-bay  defines  and 
qualifies  the  color  more  specifically  than  "bay,"  which  is  too 
indefinite,  being  any  shade  from  very  light  brown  to  hazel. 

The  description  of  the  shaft  of  the  feather  in  the  plumage 
of  the  neck  was  changed  to  read:  "White,"  instead  of  "may 
be  white,"  which  is  important,  as  it  is  characteristic  of  the 
modern  Silver  Wyandotte  to  exhibit  this  tendency  to  white  in 
the  hackle  feathers,  a  very  important  point  in  breeding  the 
large  white-centered  form  of  lacing. 

The  under-color  description  also  was  wisely  changed  to 
read  "slate"  instead  of  "dark  slate" — a  safety  valve  to  keep 
under-color  cranks  from  overlooking  the  more  important  sur- 
face color  sections. 

The  description  for  back  of  male  was  changed  to  read : 
"Back,  silvery  white;  saddle,  silvery  white,  a  black  stripe 
through  each  feather  tapering  to  a  point  near  its  extremity, 
having  a  tapering,  diamond-shaped  center  of  white;  under- 
color, slate" ;  the  words  "tapering  to  a  point  near  its  extrem- 
ity" being  added  after  the  word  "feather."  This  gave  a  better 
idea  of  the  surface  striping  of  the  saddle  feathers.  The  dia- 
mond-shaped centers  are  partially  covered,  and  do  not  show 
on  the  surface,  except  in  some  sj)ecimens  having  exceptionally 
large  and  long  white  centers,  a  virtue  rather  than  a  fault. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  105 

The  color  description  of  breast  was  radically  changed  to 
read :  "Web  of  feather,  white,  laced  with  a  narrow,  lustrous, 
greenish-black,  sharply  defined  lacing,  to  conform  to  the  edge 
of  feather." 

Body-color  description,  of  course,  was  changed  to  conform 
to  the  new  definition  of  breast  lacing.  Wings  remained  the 
same,  except  that  under-color  was  changed  to  "slate"  instead 
of  "dark  slate."  The  tail  of  the  male  was  described  more  cor- 
rectly as  :  "Black  ;  sickles  and  greater  coverts,  lustrous,  green- 
ish-black ;  lesser  coverts,  black,  with  diamond-shaped  white 
centers,  feathers  laced  with  white."  This  brings  out  the  im- 
portant color  point  in  the  coverts  in  an  unmistakable  manner. 

Legs  and  toes  were  also  given  an  overhauling,  and  de- 
scribed as  follows:  "Web  of  feather,  white,  laced  with  nar- 
row, lustrous  greenish-black,  sharply  defined  lacing,  to  con- 
form to  edge  of  feather;  under-color,  slate."  This  applies  to 
the  color  of  the  thighs,  a  much  clearer  and  more  advanced 
definition  than  the  "black  or  dark  slate,  powdered  with  gray, 
laced  feathers  desirable,"  which  appeared  in  the  previous 
Standard.  Shanks  and  toes  were  described  as  "yellow,"  with 
the  clause,  "red  showing  at  outer  sides,  back  of  scales,  not  a 
defect,"  added.  It  seems  that  some  judges  have  cut  this  red- 
dish pigment  on  yellow-shanked  fowls  as  a  defect,  when  in 
reality  it  is  a  most  desirable  quality,  and  usually  accompanies 
rich,  yellow  legs  in  fowls. 

The  Silver  Wyandotte  female  received  similar  treatment  in 
the  laced  sections  as  the  male,  the  description  of  a  laced  feather 
being  the  same  in  both.  The  color  of  neck  was  changed  some- 
what, the  shafts  of  feathers  being  described  as  "white"  instead 
of  "may  be  white,"  which  corresponds  with  the  description  of 
the  male  neck  feathers. 

The  description  of  tail  was  changed  to  read :  "Black ;  the 
upper  sides  of  the  two  top  feathers  edged  with  white ;  greater 
coverts,  black ;  lesser  coverts,  black  with  white  centers."  The 
white  edging  required  on  these  feathers  was  in  the  line  of  prog- 
ress. 

Golden  Wyandotte  Changes. — Golden  Wyandottes  were 
described  in  detail  in  the  new  Standard,  the  words  "  golden 
bay"  being  substituted  for  the  "silvery  white"  and  "white"  of 
the  Silver  Wyandotte ;  otherwise  the  description  was  the  same 
as  for  the  latter. 

White  Wyandotte  Changes. — White  Wyandotte  plumage 
was  described  as  follows :     "Web.  fluff  and  quills  of  feathers 


106  AMEHICAX   POVLTHY   A^^OVIATIoy 

in  all  sections,  pure  white."  which  was  perhaps  a  trifle  more 
explicit  than  the  old  description.  Color  of  eyes,  shanks  anil 
toes  was  the  same  as  required  on  Silver  and  Golden  W'yan- 
dottes.  e.\cei)t  that  toes  were  to  be  "yellow"  only,  with  no 
"(lusk\-  \ill()\v."  as  was  allowed  in  Goldens. 

Black  Wyandotte  Changes.— The  Black  Wyandotte  Stand- 
ard suffered  few  changes,  the  most  important  one  being  in  the 
color  of  eyes,  which  were  described  properly  as  "black  or 
dark  brown"  instead  of  "bright  red  or  bay."  Color  of  shanks 
and  toes  remained  the  same,  viz.,  "Black,  shading  into  yellow 
or  willow."  Some  breeders  advocated  pure  yellow  shanks  for 
Black  Wyandottes,  but  the  majority  preferred  the  adopted 
standard  color,  believing  that  yellow  shanks  accompanied 
white  in  plumage,  especially  in  the  under-color.  Color  of  plum- 
age was  described  as:  "Surface,  lustrous,  greenish-black 
throughout ;  under-color,  black."  A  Black  Wyandotte  with 
such  under-color  is  in  no  danger  of  developing  rich  yellow 
legs. 

But  Little  Change  in  BufTs.^ — Buff  Wyandottes  were  sub- 
jected to  no  changes  in  color,  except  in  eyes,  which  were  the 
same  as  described  in  White,  Silver  and  Golden  Wyandottes — 
"Bay  or  reddish  bay."  The  color  description  of  plumage  re- 
mains substantially  the  same,  only  a  few  superfluous  words 
and  sentences  being  eliminated.  That  for  the  male  now  read: 
"Surface  throughout,  an  even  shade  of  rich,  golden  buff',  free 
from  shafting  or  mealy  appearance,  the  head,  neck,  hackle, 
back,  wing-bows  and  saddle  richly  glossed ;  under-color  a 
lighter  shade,  free  from  foreign  color.  Different  shades  of 
buff  in  tw^o  or  more  sections  is  a  serious  defect.  A  harmonious 
blending  of  buff  in  all  sections  is  most  desirable." 

The  plumage  of  the  female  was  described  as  follows:  "Sur- 
face throughout,  an  even  shade  of  rich,  golden  buff',  free  from 
shafting  or  mealy  appearance,  the  head  and  neck  plumage 
showing  luster  of  the  same  shade  as  the  rest  of  the  plumage; 
under-color,  a  lighter  shade,  free  from  foreign  color.  Different 
shades  of  buff  in  two  or  more  of  these  sections  constitute  a 
serious  defect.  A  harmonious  blending  of  buff  in  all  sections 
is  most  desirable."  The  words  "metallic  luster"  were  elimi- 
nated, "richly  glossed"  being  sufficient  in  describing  the  sheen 
or  luster  of  buff  plumage.  The  sentences :  "Other  things 
being  equal,  the  specimen  having  the  richest  under-color  shall 
be  given  the  preference,"  and  "Black  or  white  appearing  in 
wings  or  tail  is  a  serious  defect,  and  the  one  shall  be  consid- 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  107 

ered  as  objectionable  as  the  other,"  which  appeared  in  the  pre- 
vious Standard,  were  stricken  out.  The  former,  for  the  obvi- 
ous reason  that  judges  naturally  would  prefer  the  stronger 
under-color,  the  latter  for  the  stronger  reason  that  black  or 
white  in  bufif  feathers  are  defects  and  need  not  be  described  in 
buff  color  definitions. 

Partridge  Color  Changes. — The  color  of  Partridge  Wyan- 
dottes  was  changed  to  meet  the  wishes  of  the  Partridge  Wyan- 
dotte Club,  the  principal  changes  being,  in  male:  "Head: 
Plumage,  bright  red."  "Eyes,  bay  or  reddish  bay."  "Neck, 
bright  red,  with  lustrous,  greenish-black  stripe,  running  nearly 
parallel  with  the  edges  and  extending  through  each  feather, 
tapering  to  a  point  near  its  extremity ;  under-color,  slate." 
"Back:  Dark  red;  saddle,  bright  red,  with  a  lustrous,  green- 
ish-black stripe  down  the  middle  of  each  feather  as  in  hackle, 
under-color  slate."  "Body  and  fluff:  Body  and  fluff,  black, 
marked  with  reddish-brown,  reddish-brown  not  to  predomi- 
nate ;  under-color,  slate."  "Wing-bows,  dark  red ;  fronts, 
black;  primaries,  black,  lower  edges  reddish-bay,  terminating 
with  greenish-black  at  end  of  each  feather;  coverts,  lustrous, 
greenish-black,  forming  a  well-defined  bar  of  this  color  across 
the  wing,  when  folded."  "Tail:  Black;  sickles  and  coverts, 
lustrous,  greenish-black ;  lesser  coverts,  lustrous  greenish- 
black,  edged  with  bright  red."  "Legs  and  toes:  Thighs, 
black;  shanks  and  toes,  yellow;  red  showing  at  the  outer  sides, 
back  of  scales,  not  a  defect." 

Slate,  instead  of  dark-slate  under  color,  should  produce  bet- 
ter and  brighter  colored  cockerels  and  pullets.  After  a  careful 
comparison  and  study  of  specimen  feathers  plucked  from 
choice  exhibition  specimens,  the  color  terms  used  in  matching 
the  darker  and  lighter  shades  of  feathers  were  submitted,  the 
standard  sections  of  the  female  being  described  as  follows : 

"Head:  Plumage,  mahogany  brown."  "Neck:  Reddish- 
bay,  center  portion  of  feathers  black  penciled  with  mahogany 
brown  extending  down  middle  of  each  feather,  running  nearly 
parallel  with  the  edges  of  the  feather  and  tapering  to  a  point 
near  its  extremity."  "Back:  Mahogany  brown,  distinctly 
penciled  with  black,  the  outlines  of  penciling  conforming  to 
shape  of  feathers,  under-color,  slate."  For  breast  and  wing- 
bows,  the  same  color  description  as  for  back  was  adopted. 
Tail  coverts  and  thighs  were  described  as  "mahogany  brown, 
penciled  with  black."  The  two  top  feathers  of  the  tail  were 
described  as  "black,  penciled  with  mahogany  brown."     Each 


108  AMERICAN   POULTRY    ASSOCIATIOX 

featlier  in  back,  breast,  body  and  wing-bows  was  required  to 
have  "two  or  more  distinct  pencilings  and  to  be  free  from 
shafting."  In  the  1905  Standard  the  color  was  described  as 
"mahogany  red  or  reddish-brown,  distinctly  penciled  with  very 
dark  brown,"  an  obsolete  pattern  rarely  to  l)e  found  in  the 
feathers  of  high-class  Partridge  Wyandotte  females,  the  pen- 
ciling of  the  feathers  showing  a  lustrous,  greenish-black  which 
is  intensified  by  the  mahogany  brown  ground  color. 

Silver  Penciled. — The  Silver  Penciled  Wyandotte  Standard 
remained  practically  unchanged,  the  changes  made  simplifying 
some  of  the  descriptions  by  the  word-pruning  and  refining 
process.  The  color  descrii)tions  were  identically  the  same  as 
those  for  Dark  Brahmas.  The  striping  in  the  neck  was  changed 
to  "lustrous  greenish  black"  from  a  "distinct  Black  stripe," 
and  the  under-color  from  "dark  slate"  to  "slate"  or  "slate  or 
bluish-white"  in  some  sections.  The  only  change  made  in 
color  of  tail  was  in  substituting  the  word  "lustrous"  for 
"glossy" ;  while  body  and  flulT  descriptions  were  changed  to 
read:  "Body,  black;  under-color,  slate,  or  bluish  white.  Fluff, 
black,  slightly  tinted  with  gray."  This  change  called  for  a 
sound,  black  body,  which  is  the  continuance  of  the  black  breast 
— "slightly  frosted  with  white,"  being  eliminated  from  the  de- 
scription, the  word  "tinged"  substituted  for  "frosted."  which 
is  more  applicable  in  describing  the  color  of  fluff'. 

Regarding  the  color  of  Silver  Penciled  Wyandotte  females, 
"Silvery  white,  with  broad,  black  stripe  running  nearly  parallel 
with  edges  and  extending  down  middle  of  each  feather,  taper- 
ing to  a  point  near  its  extremity",  was  an  important  change 
made  in  the  description  of  the  neck  section.  This  called  for  a 
solid  black  stripe  in  female  hackle  feathers,  a  radical  change 
from  that  required  in  the  old  Standard,  which  allowed  slight 
jjenciling  with  silvery  white  in  the  black  stripe,  which  is  a 
characteristic  to  be  found  in  the  most  finely  penciled  sjieci- 
mens;  and  we  never  saw  a  Silver  Penciled  Wyandotte  exhibi- 
tion hen  with  absolutely  black  striped  hackle.  The  uiijier  webs 
of  secondaries  were  changed  to  "black"  from  "dull  black,"  the 
only  other  change  made  for  the  1910  Standard. 

Columbian  Descriptions. — Columbian  Wyandottes  were 
given  the  same  color  description  as  that  for  Light  Brahmas, 
which  has  been  found  satisfactory  to  Brahma  breeders,  with 
the  exception  of  hackle,  which  read  :  "Web  white  with  solid, 
lustrous,  greenish-black  stripe  extending  from  fluff'  down  mid- 
dle  of  each   feather,   running  nearly   parallel    with    edges  of 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  109 

feather  and  tapering  to  a  point  near  its  extremity."  The 
words,  "one-half  or  more  of  its  length"  being  replaced  by 
"from  fluff  down",  in  males,  which  is  more  definite.  In  other 
words,  it  meant  that  the  stripe  must  be  black  in  the  web  of 
the  feather  only,  the  under-color  white,  bluish-white  or  slate. 
The  description  of  back  was  changed  to  allow  saddle  hangers 
to  have  some  striping.  Black  striping  in  the  saddle  hangers 
of  Columbian  Wyandottes  is  a  color  characteristic  of  the  va- 
riety and  the  more  solid  black  and  intense  this  striping  is 
in  the  Columbian  Wyandotte,  the  finer  the  white  edging,  or 
lacing,  will  be. 

In  Columbian  Wyandotte  females,  the  color  of  wing-pri- 
maries was  made  the  same  as  for  the  male,  viz.:  "Black,  with 
white  edging  on  lower  edge  of  lower  web."  This  change  was 
requested  by  the  majority  of  breeders,  and  is  in  line  with  the 
wing-color  of  the  modern  type  of  Light  Brahma  females.  The 
back  color  of  the  female  adopted  was  described  as  "Surface, 
white;  cape,  white  or  black  and  white;  under-color  white, 
bluish-white  or  slate",  breeders  of  Columbian  Wyandottes  in- 
sisting that  such  a  wide  color  range  was  just  to  the  variety 
at  the  early  stages  of  its  development.  As  black  in  web  of 
back  feathers  was  not  made  a  disqualification,  there  was  no 
reason  for  describing  surface  color  of  back  other  than  white. 
The  American  Standard  of  Perfection  describes  an  ideal  bird 
in  plumage,  so  there  can  be  but  one  ideal  color  for  back,  and 
that  is  white.     (J.  H.  D.) 


110 


AMi:h'ICA\    POl  LTh'Y   ASi<()CIATIO\ 


FIGURE  36. 


COMPARISON  (JF  MALK  TVPKS. 


The  outline  i)resented  in  soft  tone  is  a  composite  ideal  wliicli  embodies 
the  suj^gestions  made  liy  leading  breeders  in  1910.  drawn  l>y  F.  L.  Sewell. 
The  sharp  black  outlines  are  from  drawings  by  J.  Henry  Lee  published  in 
the  American  Standard  of  Excellence  in  1888,  the  first  illustrated  Standard. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK 


FIGURE  37. 


COMPARISON  OF  FEMALE  TYPES. 

The  outline  presented  in  soft  tone  is  a  composite  ideal  which  embodies 
the  suggestions  made  by  leading  breeders  in  1910,  drawn  by  F.  L.  Sewell. 
The  sharp  black  outlines  are  from  drawings  by  J.  Henry  Lee  published  in 
the  American  Standard  of  Excellence  in  1888,  the  first  illustrated  Standard. 
This  edition  was  soon  declared  obsolete  and  withdrawn  from  circulation. 


112  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


CHAPTER  IV. 

STANDARD    REQUIREMENTS   FOR   SHAPE   OF   ALL 
VARIETIES. 

Disqualifications. 

Ear-lobes  more  than  one-quarter  positive  enanu'I  white. 

STANDARD  WEIGHTS. 

Cock 8K'  lbs.      Hen    6>^  lbs. 

Cockerel    7^  lbs.      Pullet 5'/.  lbs. 

SHAPE  OF  MALE. 

Head. — Short,  round,  broad. 

Beak. — Short,  well  curved. 

Eyes. — Full,  oval. 

Comb. — Rose,  low,  firm  on  head ;  top,  free  from  hollow  center, 
oval,  and  surface  covered  with  small,  rounded  points,  taper- 
inof  to  a  well  defined  point  at  rear;  the  entire  comb  curvin.s: 
to  conform  to  the  shape  of  skull. 

Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Wattles,  moderately  long,  nicely 
rounded  at  knver  edges,  equal  in  length,  fine  in  texture,  free 
from  folds  or  wrinkles.  Ear-lobes,  oblong-,  well  defined, 
hang-ing  about  one-third  the  length  of  wattles;  smooth. 

Neck. — Short,  well  arched  ;  hackle,  abundant,  flowing  well  over 
shoulders. 

Wings. — Medium  in  size,  not  carried  loo  closely  to  body; 
sides,  well  rounded. 

Back. — Short,  broad,  flat  at  shoulders;  saddle,  broad,  full,  ris- 
ing with  concave  sweep  to  tail  ;  saddle  feathers,  abundant. 

Tail. — Short,  well  si)read  at  base,  carried  at  an  angle  of  fifty 
degrees  above  the  horizontal  (see  illustration,  fig.  23)  ; 
sickles,  moderately  long,  curving  gracefully  and  closely 
over  tail ;  coverts,  abundant,  filling  out  well  in  front,  hiding 
the  stifif  feathers. 

Breast. — Broad,  deep,  rtnmd. 

Body  and  Fluff. — Body,  moderately  short,  deep,  round;  flufi^. 
full-feathered,  well  rounded. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  113 

Legs  and  Toes. — Thighs,  short,  stout,  showing  outlines  when 
viewed  sideways,  well  covered  with  short  feathers ;  shanks, 
short,  stout,  well  set  apart,  well  rounded ;  toes,  straight. 

SHAPE  OF  FEMALE. 

Head. — Short,  round  ;  c£own,  broad. 

Beak. — Short,  well  curved^  ^ 

Eyes. — Full,  oval. 

Comb. — Rose,  similar  to  that  of  male,  but  much  smaller. 

Wattles    and    Ear-Lobes. — Wattles,     fine     in     texture,     well 

rounded.     Ear-lobes,  oblong  in  shape,  well  defined. 
Neck. — Short,  well  arched ;  neck  feathers,  abundant. 
Wings. — Medium  in  size,  well  rounded  and  well  folded  ;  fronts, 

well  covered  by  breast  feathers. 
Back. — Short,  broad,   flat   at  shoulders ;   rising   in  a   concave 

sweep  to  a  broad,  slightly  rounded  cushion,  which  extends 

well  on  to  main  tail ;  plumage,  abundant. 
Tail. — Short,  well  spread  at  base,  carried  at  an  angle  of  forty 

degrees   above    the    horizontal    (see   illustration,    fig.    22)  ; 

coverts,  abundant. 
Breast. — Broad,  deep,  round. 
Body  and  Fluff. — Body  moderately  short,  deep,  round ;  flufif, 

full-feathered,  well  rounded. 
Legs  and  Toes. — -Thighs,  short,  stout,  well  spread,  showing 

outlines   when   viewed   sideways,   well   covered   with   soft 

feathers ;  shanks,  short,  stout,  set  well  apart,  well  rounded ; 

toes,  straight. 


PLATE  1. 


STANDARD  S1L\F.R  WYAXDOTTE  MALE. 
Correct  in  Shape  for  all  N'arieties  of  W'yandottes. 


PLATE  2. 


STANDARD  SILVFJ;:  WYANDOTTE  FEMALE. 
Correct  in  Shape  for  all  Varieties  of  Wyandottes. 


116  AM  ERIC  Ay   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

PLATE  3. 


IDEAL  WYANDOTTE  MALE  HEAD. 
Correct  in  Shape  for  all  Varieties  of  Wyandottts. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED   BOOK  117 

PLATE  4. 


IDEAL  WYANDOTTE  FEMALE  HEAD. 
Correct  in  Shape  for  all  Varieties  of  Wyandottes. 


118 


AM  Eh' If  AX   POlLTffY   ASSOCIATION 


CHAPTER  V. 


COMMON  DEFECTS  AND  HOW  TO  OVERCOME 
THEM. 

IT  SEEMS  to  be  difficult  for  some  breeders  to  see  the  defects 
that  exist  in  their  own  birds.  It  should  be  conceded, 
however,  that  every  breed  has  its  characteristic  faults,  and 
no  flock  has  attained  that  general  perfection  where  progres- 
sive breeding  is  no  longer  necessary.  Therefore,  let  us  con- 
sider the  common  defects  of  the  Wyandotte,  and  study  how  to 
mate  to  overcome  them. 

The  Head  Points. — The  head  of  the  \\  yandotte  is  the  emi- 
nently characteristic  feature  of  the  breed.  A  good  head  is 
usually  the  possession  of  a  Wyandotte  that  is  also  good  in 
body  type.  In  selecting  birds  for  the  breeding  yard,  those 
that  have  a  long,  narrow  skull  and  flaring  eye  should  not  be 
considered.  Such  birds  are  designated  as  "snake-headed"  and 
should  be  eliminated. 


PL.^TE  5. 


DEFKCTI\E  MALE  COMBS  AND  WATTLES. 

1 — Comb  too  large  and  too  coarse.  Spike  too  large  and  too  coarse. 
2 — Comb  too  broad  and  lopped,  obstructing  tlic  sight  on  one  side.  Wattles 
wrinkled  and  uneven  in  length. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 
PLATE  6. 


DEFECTIVE  MALE  HEADS. 

1 — Weak,  narrow  skull.  Comb  too  small  and  undeveloped.  Eyes  too 
small  and  deep  set.  Beak  too  long  and  narrow.  2 — Comb  too  flat,  smooth 
on  top  and  narrow  and  thin  in  front.  3 — Narrow  head  and  skull.  Concave 
comb.  4 — Comb  too  thick  and  rounded,  lacking  small  points  on  top, 
extending  down  over  sides  of  beak.  Ear-lobes  too  small  and  wrinkled. 
Too  much  curve  in  neck. 

The  Standard  comb  is  nicely  pebbled.  Smooth  combs  are 
useful  in  maintaining  the  Standard  type,  and  in  mating  for 
good  combs  it  is  advisable  to  breed  from  one  sex  which  pos- 


120  A.\U:iaCA\    FOl  l/Jh'Y   AS.soclAJKtN 

scsses  a  practically  smooth  comb.  Coarse  combs,  in  which  the 
pebbling  appears  as  points,  are  apt  to  result  from  breeding  the 
Standard  pebliled  C(jmb  in  both  sexes. 

The  breeder  sht)uld  examine  the  female  comb  ch^sely,  even 
though  the  comb  of  the  female  is  much  smaller  than  that  of 
the  male.  It  is  well  to  ask  the  question:  "If  this  female's 
comb  were  as  large  as  the  comb  on  a  male,  wcnild  it  be  un- 
sightly?" In  this  (lay  when  good  quality  specimens  are  widely 
distributed,  and  there  are  many  good  birds  to  select  from,  the 
breeder  should  not  breed  from  a  female  that  may  produce 
cockerels  whose  combs  will  at  once  condemn  them. 

Good  laying  pullets,  or  those  that  have  been  fed  rich  feed 
for  egg  production,  are  apt  to  have  large,  loose  combs.  In 
strictly  exhibition  bred  stock,  neater  combs  prevail.  If  the 
breeder  is  able  to  put  his  finger  and  thumb  (one  on  each  side) 
between  the  comb  and  the  head,  the  bird  can  hardly  be  ex- 
pected to  produce  males  whose  combs  fit  their  heads  closely. 

Long  points  on  the  comb,  a  hollow  in  the  center,  or  a  de- 
pression in  the  comb,  a  very  wide  front  on  a  comb,  a  very 
narrow  comb,  a  hump  or  twist  in  the  comb,  or  a  loose  comb 
as  above  described,  are  defects  in  the  breeding  bird  as  well 
as  the  show  specimen. 

Absence  of  Spike. — Absence  of  spike  disqualifies  a  Wyan- 
dotte. A  long  spike  is  not  necessary.  It  is  desirable  that  the 
spike  should  follow  the  contour  of  the  head,  giving  to  the  en- 
tire comb  a  rocker  appearance.  A  spike  that  is  sunk  in  the 
comb,  like  a  cork  in  a  bottle,  is  a  serious  defect,  and  if  allowed 
in  the  breeding  yard  it  will  show  in  some  of  the  young  stock 
and  will  keep  cropping  out  from  year  to  year.  A  well  ft)rmed 
spike  always  adds  to  the  symmetry  of  the  comb  and  head. 
The  spikes  of  some  rose  combs  are  split  half  way  in  toward 
the  comb  proper  into  three  irregular  points.  This  is  due  to 
a  trifid  element  being  added  to  the  rose  com)),  and  is  domi- 
nant in  breeding.  Since  the  Standard  provides  that  these 
extra  spikes  shall  be  cut  one  ])oint  each,  the  defect  is  a  serious 
one;  and  it  being  a  dominant  factor,  the  birds  having  it  should 
be  considered  culls. 

There  are  five  sections  of  the  head  with  a  total  valuation 
of  16  points,  of  which  8  jjoints  are  allotted  to  the  comb  alone. 
In  the  Wyandotte  breed,  however,  no  head  feature  is  ever 
passed  by  the  studious  breeder  or  judge  without  due  con- 
sideration. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED   BOOK 


121 


White  in  Lobes. — White  in  ear-lobe  is  an  old  fault  of  the 
breed,  now  practically  eradicated  from  the  males,  but  oc- 
casionally seen  in  the  females.  Some  males  show  a  paleness 
in  lobes  that  is  not  enamel  white ;  and  such  weakness  of  color 
may  be  due  to  a  disturbance  of  constitutional  vigor  caused  by 
intestinal  worms.  In  this  case,  the  circulation  is  poorer  at 
some  times  than  at  others,  and  the  lobes  therefore  appear 
lighter  in  color  at  some  times  than  at  others. 

If  more  than  one  quarter  of  the  surface  of  the  lobe  is  posi- 

PLATE  7. 


DEFECTIVE  FEMALE  HEADS. 

1 — Absence  of  spike  on  comb.  Wattles  too  long  and  also  wrinkled. 
2 — Weak  expression  indicating  lack  of  vitality.  Eyes  too  small.  3 — Skull 
too  wide.  Beak  too  short.  Spike  turning  to  one  side  instead  of  straight. 
4 — Head  too  coarse.  Brows  overhanging.  Too  full  and  prominent  between 
wattles.  Comb  hollow  on  top.  Spike  not  following  skull.  5 — Weak,  nar- 
row skull.     Narrow  undeveloped  comb.     Cross  beak. 


122 


AMEiaCAX   POULTRY  ASSOCIATIOX 


tive  enamel  white,  the  defect  disquahfics.  Until  the  Standard 
of  1905  was  made,  solid  wdiite  ear-lobes  disqualified.  In  the 
Standard  of  1905.  ear-lubes  that  showed  more  than  one-half 
positive  white  disqualified.  This  was  reduced  to  a  quarter  in 
1910,  and  so  remains.  With  the  gradual  improvement,  it  be- 
comes increasingly  ditVicult  to  win  with  weak  lobed  birds, 
and  the  careful  breeder  seeks  soundness  of  color  in  this  section. 

In  a  show  Wyandotte,  the  wattles  should  not  be  coarse  in 
texture  nor  long  with  heavy  folds.  In  the  breeding  yard,  how- 
ever, a  short  wattle  bird  may  prove  the  weaker  breeder.  Some- 
times one  wattle  is  longer  than  the  other,  due  to  frost  bite 
aflfecting  one  side  more  than  the  other.  This  is  not  a  serious 
defect. 

The  upper  mandible  (upper  half  of  the  beak)  of  the  typical 
Wyandotte   is  short  and  well  curved.     A  long  beak  is  com- 


PL.\TE  8. 


DEFECTIVE  MALE  SHAPE. 

1 — Neck  too  thin  at  throat.  Tail  too  high.  Body  too  short.  Legs 
set  back  too  far  and  too  long.  2 — Too  full  curves  in  neck  and  breast. 
Wings  too  low  at  tips.    Shanks  too  short. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  123 

PLATE  9. 


DEFECTIVE  MALE  SHAPE. 

1— Coarse  in  type  generally.  Comb  coarse.  Tail  not  well  furnished. 
Saddle  carried  too  high.  2 — Neck  carried  too  far  forward.  Back  too 
long  and  straight.    Deficient  tail. 


monly  found  in  the  snake-headed  type,  and  such  a  specimen 
is  of  no  value  to  the  breeder.  A  deformed  beak  puts  the  bird 
at  an  enormous  disadvantage  and  an  unfortunate  specimen  of 
this  kind  should  be  culled  out  as  a  chick,  long  before  the  time 
for  mating  arrives. 

Pearl  eyes  are  recessive  to  red  and  there  is,  therefore, 
poor  excuse  for  weak  eyes  in  Wyandottes.  Many  birds  have 
perfect  eye  color  and  if  such  a  one  is  bred,  and  then  bred 
back  to,  the  number  of  good  eyes  in  the  chicks  will  be  very  en- 
couraging. Defective  eye  color  is  considered  more  serious 
than  formerly,  the  maximum  cut  for  eyes  that  are  too  light  in 
color  being  I/2  point  until  the  1905  edition  of  the  Standard ; 
whereas  the  cut  was  subsequently  increased  to  ^  to  IjA 
points. 

The  Neck. — A  well  aj-phed  neck  should  support  the  well 
rounded  head  of  the  Wyandotte,  for  every  line  of  the  typical 


124  AMEIilCAX    P(HLrifY    ASSOCIATION 

Wyandotte  is  a  curve,  ami  a  loii^^.  thin  neck  would  spoil  the 
symmetry  of  the  l>ir(l.  W  hen  the  male  is  viewed  from  the  side, 
his  wattles  should  rest  against  the  swell  of  a  flowing  neck 
hackle.  'JMic  best  exhibition  males  not  only  have  the  back  of 
their  hackle  nicely  arched  from  head  to  cape,  but  the  hackle 
is  also  well  rounded  at  the  sides,  swelling  out  immediately 
below  the  ears. 

The  bone  and  meat  of  the  neck  is  a  slender  i)art  of  the 
body,  and  the  entire  outward  ajjpearance  of  this  section  de- 
pends upon  the  plumage.  The  fullness  of  the  back,  the  length 
and  furnish  of  the  tail,  in  fact  the  general  outline  of  the  bird  is 
likewise  de])endent  ui)on  the  plumage. 

Plumage  Quality. — Anything  that  retards  or  arrests  the  de- 
vel(>])nient  of  the  feathers,  such  as  dirty  quarters,  crowding, 
lack  of  animal  food  or  greens,  is  equally  as  important  as  breed- 
ing. While  good  care  will  not  transform  a  poorly  bred  bird 
into  a  prize  \vinner,  the  lack  of  care  will  ruin  the  finest  chick 
ever  bred. 

It  is  not  alone  a  matter  of  the  right  (|uantity  and  distribu- 
tion of  plumage.  Plumage  has  texture.  Where  there  is  a 
connection  of  filaments,  or  threads,  as  in  a  woven  fabric,  there 
is  texture.  This  feature  of  the  i)lumage  may  very  in  diflferent 
birds,  also  in  dift'erent  strains  and  varieties,  and  this  gives 
rise  to  different  qualities  of  feather.  The  highest  type  of  show 
Wyandotte  has  a  decidedly  smooth  surface  or  te.xture  to  its 
plumage.  This  is  developed  to  the  finest  point  in  some  White 
and  some  Black  Wyandotte  females. 

A  certain  amount  of  hardness  of  feather  is  necessary  if  this 
smooth  surface  is  to  be  obtained.  A  loose,  profusely  feathered 
bird  has  a  softer,  flufTier  character  of  feather.  To  produce 
the  smooth  surface,  look  w-ell  to  the  male,  selecting  a  lustrous 
plumage  bird  whose  breast  feathers  are  hard  and  smooth,  the 
same  being  secured  by  each  individual  feather  being  well 
webbed  together  clear  to  its  outer  edges.  Such  a  male  should 
carry  a  considerable  quantity  of  webbed  feathers  in  fluff  of 
body. 

A  number  of  Wyandotte  females  carry  too  much  fluff  for 
show  purposes.  The  male  described  above  is  a  good  mate  to 
correct  this  fault  and  produce  the  neater  lined  pullet  with 
smootH  surfaced  plumage.  The  hock  of  the  female  should 
show  when  the  bird  is  viewed  from  the  side.  If  the  body 
feathers  are  long  and  profuse,  covering  u\)  the  hock  line,  the 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  125 

PLATE  10. 


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DEFECTIVE  MALE  SHAPE. 

1 — Carriage  too  upright.  Comb  coarse.  Wings  too  far  forward.  Back 
too  straight  and  level.  Tail  pinched.  2 — Comb  and  head  coarse.  Wings 
carried  too  low.  Back  too  long.  Breast,  body  and  fluff  too  shallow.  Tail 
too  full  and  long.  3 — Too  short  and  blunt  in  all  sections.  Tail  not  devel- 
oped. Back  and  saddle  carried  too  low.  4 — General  shape  too  short. 
Back  extremely  short.    Breast  flat. 


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AMEJUCAN    POL  LTUY   AS^OCIATIOS 


PLATE  13. 


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DEFECTIX  K  l-KMALE  SHAPE. 

1 — Flat  hrcast.     Fluff  carried  too  low.     Back  too  short.  2— Neck  too 

short  and  not  making  smooth  connection  at  back  of  head.  Back  and  tail 
too  low.     Legs  set  too  far  back. 


female  is  loo  imu-li  afti-r  the  fashion  of  a  ("oehin  witli  its  alnnul- 
ance  of  rtuff. 

Males  are  often  of  jxior  shai)e  becatise  they  ha\e  not  the 
proper  plumage.  'J'he  back  may  be  fiat  because  the  plumage 
of  the  saddle  does  not  l)uild  up  a  concave  sweep  to  tail.  This 
defect  may  be  overcome  by  breeding-  from  the  blocky,  well 
cushioned  female,  and  this  is  where  the  full  feathered  type  of 
female  becomes   valuable   in   the   breeding  yard. 

A  high  tail  in  the  male  may  be  counteracted  by  breeding 
from  low  tailed  females  with  well  spread  main  tail  feathers. 
A  Wyandotte  male  tail  poorly  furnished  with  coverts  is  not 
representative  of  the  best.  Mate  to  such  a  specimen  a  female 
whose  two  to])  main  tail  feathers  are  long  and  who  lias  an 
abundance  of  tail  coverts  which  extend  well  out  toward  the 
end  of  her  main  tail  feathers. 

A  fault  of  some  males  is  long  legs.     This  is  a  serious  de- 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


129 


PLATE  14. 


DEFECTIVE  FEMALE  SHAPE. 

1 — Low  carried  fluff  and  too  full  feather  development,  sometimes  due 
to  over-condition.  2 — Large,  coarse  type.  Lacks  the  typical  Wyandotte 
curves.  3 — Breast  too  low.  Back  extremely  short.  Wings  low  at  the 
shoulders.  4 — Back  too  long.  Cushion  not  well  developed.  Body  too 
long.    Legs  too  long. 


130 


AMEHICAX   POULTRY   ASSOCIATIOX 


feet  in  a  Wyandotte,  and  low  set  hens  should  be  used  to  over- 
come the  fault.  Narrowness  between  the  legs  is  a  defect  that 
is  overcome  with  dilTiculty.  While  feathers  may  be  bred  to 
suit  with  some  facility,  it  is  not  as  easy  by  half  to  correct 
defective  body  formation  such  as  narrowness  between  the  legs 
or  roached  back. 

The  legs  of  a  Wyandotte  should  be  set  well  apart,  under  a 
wide  body.  This  is  characteristic  of  the  typical  Wyandotte  of 
all  ages,  whether  alive  or  dressed.  It  accompanies  width  of 
body.  A  narrow  bodied  bird  may  present  a  ])rctty  ])rotile  but 
the  Standard  shows  the  importance  of  breadth  in  the  Wyan- 
dotte by  calling  for  a  broad  back.  A  bird  of  good  proportions 
will  present  as  complete  a  picture  when  viewed  from  above  as 
when  viewed  from  the  side. 

The  Wyandotte  breast  should  be  full  and  well  rounded. 
Flatness  here  may  be  due  to  poise  or  lack  of  feather  develop- 
ment or  actual  shallowness  of  frame.  In  some  breeds,  breast 
development  may  be  secured  through  length  of  feather,  but 
Wyandotte  lireeders  should  aim  to  l)reed  a  fullness  that  is  real, 
i.  e..  a  full  body  formation. 

PL.\TE  15. 


DEFECTIVE  FEMALE  SHAPE. 

1— Poorly  shaped  cushion.  Wings  carried  too  high  and  not  properly 
folded.  Feathering  too  loose  on  forward  body.  Legs  coarse  and  scaly. 
2 — Tail  undeveloped.     Body  too  short.    Shanks  too  long. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD   AND   BREED   BOOK  131 


PLATE   16. 


DEFECTIVE  MALE  AND  FEMALE  SHAPE. 

1 — Knock  knees.  2 — Bow  legs.  3 — Ideal  (perfect)  legs  and  feet  of 
male.  The  same  qualities  of  roundness  and  fullness  of  shanks  should  also 
be  cultivated  in  females. 


132 


AMERICAN  POULTRY   ASt<OCIATl()\ 


WYANDOTTE  8TAXDAHD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


133 


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134  AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

A  Bird  of  Curves. — Every  line  of  the  Wyandotte  should  be 
a  curve,  so  that  when  all  the  concave  and  convex  lines  are 
brought  together  we  have  a  bird  that  is  round  in  every  sec- 
tion. This  does  not  api)ly  to  the  profile  alone.  The  sides 
of  the  bird  should  be  rounded  also. 

The  surface  of  the  bird,  especially  llu-  kinale,  should  be 
smooth.  Wing  points  that  ])inch  in  below  the  cushi(jn  destroy 
the  smooth  surface. 

A  Wyandotte's  wings  should  not  be  composed  of  long 
flight  feathers.  If  these  primaries  and  secondaries  are  long 
the  bird  will  be  correspondingly  long  bodied,  and  the  Wyan- 
dotte will  approach  the  I'lymouth  Rock  in  type.  The  bow  of 
the  Wyandotte  wing  should  be  well  rounded,  and  the  fronts  of 
the  wings  well  covered  with  the  sides  of  the  breast  plumage. 
The  wing  points  of  the  male  should  not  show,  for  they 
should  be  well  covered  by  the  saddle  feathers.  Some  males, 
however,  especially  cockerels,  do  not  hold  their  wings  uj)  but 
drop  the  points  down  like  a  ])air  of  swords.  This  spoils  the 
side  view  of  the  bird  for  tlie  underliiu-  of  the  wings  should  be 
almost  horizontal. 

These  defects  are  mentioned  that  the  breeder  may  consider 
them  and  try  to  select  those  birds  for  breeding  that  will  cor- 
rect existing  faults  and  thus  produce  birds  that  will  more 
nearly  meet  the  requirements  of  the  Standard.      (  b\  L.  IV  ) 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK 


PLATE  B. 


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Winners  at  English  shows,  illustrating  English  Wyandotte  type. 
Above,  Partridge  Wyandotte  male  and  female.  Below,  1st  Silver  Penciled 
Wyandotte  cockerel,  Dairy  Show,  and  1st  Silver  Wyandotte  pullet,  Crystal 
Place  Show.     See  plate  A,  page  60. 


136  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATTOX 


SECTION     II 


CHAPTER  I. 

STANDARD  REQUIREMENTS  FOR  COLOR  OF 
SILVER  WYANDOTTES. 

Disqualifications. 

Shanks  other  than  yellow.  (See  general  and  Wyandotte  dis- 
qualifications.) 

COLOR  OF  MALI-:. 

Head. — Plumage,  silvery  white,  each  feather  ha\ing  a  black 
stripe  tapering  to  a  fine  point  near  its  extremity. 

Beak. — Dark  horn,  shading  to  yellow  at  point. 

Eyes. — Reddi.sh-l^iy. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 

Neck. — Hackle,  web  of  feather  lustrous  greenish-black  with 
a  narrow  edging  of  silvery  white,  imiform  in  width,  extend- 
ing around  point  of  feather;  shaft  of  feather,  white;  plum- 
age in  front  of  hackle  same  as  breast. 

Wings. — Bows,  silvery  white;  coverts,  white  with  narrow  lus- 
trous greenish-black  lacings,  conforming  to  the  shape  of 
feathers,  forming  a  double  bar  of  laced  feathers  acros.; 
wings;  primaries,  black,  lower  edges,  white;  secondaries, 
black,  lower  half  of  outer  webs,  white  with  narrow  black 
edgings  wider  at  the  tips,  upper  webs,  edged  with  white. 

Back. — Silvery  white;  saddle,  silvery  white  in  appearance,  a 
black  stripe  through  each  feather,  laced  with  white,  con- 
forming to  shape  of  center;  the  black  having  a  K)ng  dia- 
mond-shaped center  of  white. 

Tail. — Black;  sickles  and  coverts,  lustrous  greenish-black; 
smaller  coverts,  black,  with  diamond-shaped  white  centers, 
feathers  laced  with  wliite. 

Breast. — Web  of  each  feather,  white,  laced  with  a  narrow,  lus- 
trous greenish-black,  sharply  defined  lacing,  conforming  to 
edge  of  feather. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  137 

Body  and  Fluff. — Body,  web  of  each  feather,  white,  laced  with 
a  narrow,  lustrous  greenish-black,  sharply  defined  lacing", 
conforming  to  edge  of  feather ;  fluff,  slate,  powdered  with 
gray. 

Legs  and  Toes. — Thighs,  web  of  each  feather,  white,  laced 
with  a  narrow,  lustrous  greenish-black,  sharply  defined 
lacing,  conforming  to  edge  of  feather;  shanks  and  toes, 
yellow. 

Under-Color  of  All  Sections. — Slate. 

COLOR  OF  FEMALE. 

Head. — Plumage,  silvery  gray. 

Beak. — Dark  horn,  shading  to  yellow  at  point. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 

Neck. — Silvery  white  in  appearance,  with  a  black  center 
through  each  feather,  laced  with  white ;  shafts  of  feathers, 
white ;  feathers  in  front  of  neck  same  as  breast. 

Wings. — Shoulders,  bows  and  coverts,  each  feather  white, 
laced  with  a  narrow,  lustrous  greenish-black,  sharply  de- 
fined lacing  conforming  to  edge  of  feather;  primaries,  black, 
lower  edges  white ;  secondaries,  black,  lower  half  of  outer 
webs,  white  with  narrow  black  edging  wider  at  tips. 

Back. — Each  feather  white,  laced  with  a  narrow,  lustrous 
greenish-black,  sharply  defined  lacing,  to  conform  to  edge 
of  feather. 

Tail. — Black,  the  upper  sides  of  the  two  top  feathers  edged 
with  white  ;  coverts,  and  smaller  coverts,  black  with  white 
centers. 

Breast. — Each  feather  white,  laced  with  a  narrow,  lustrous 
greenish-black,  sharply  defined  lacing  to  conform  to  edge 
of  feather. 

Body  and  Fluff. — Body,  each  feather  white,  laced  with  a  nar- 
row, lustrous  greenish-black,  sharply  defined  lacing  to  con- 
form to  edge  of  feather ;  fluff",  slate  powdered  with  gray. 

Legs  and  Toes. — Thighs,  each  feather  white,  laced  with  a  nar- 
row, lustrous  greenish-black,  sharply  defined  lacing,  to  con- 
form to  edge  of  feather  ;  shanks  and  toes  yellow. 

Under-Color  of  All  Sections. — Slate. 


PROFFRTY   /P'^^Rf 


138  AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATIOX 


LACED  WYANDOTTES. 


COLOR  REQUIREMENTS  EXPLAINED. 

Til  I-',  color  markinj^s  of  the  Sihcr  Wyanduttes  arc  among 
the  most  l)eautiful  ones  to  be  found  on  domesticated 
races  of  poultry  and  at  the  same  time  they  are  among 
the  most  difficult  ones  for  the  breeder  to  produce  and  for 
the  judge  to  properly  value  when  adjudicating  in  the  show 
room.  Judges,  as  well  as  breeders,  must  have  fi.xed  ideals  in 
their  minds  of  Silver  Wyandotte  color  markings,  which  must 
be  based  upon  the  Standard  descriptions  for  color,  by  which 
all  si^ecimens  handled  by  them  are  measured. 

These  ideals  have  undergone  many  changes  in  the  past 
thirty  or  more  years,  the  Wyandottcs  of  the  early  eighties — 
as  will  be  seen  by  the  illustrations  in  the  History  of  the  Origin 
chapter  in  this  book — appearing  to  be  a  distinctive  race  from 
the  present  Silver  Wyandottes  in  color  markings,  the  narrow, 
white  centers  of  the  heavily  laced  feathers  of  the  females  and 
solid  black  wing-bars  of  the  males  of  the  original  type  being 
supplanted  by  the  larger  centered,  or  Sebright,  type  of  lacing 
in  the  males  and  females  of  today.  But  breeders  and  judges 
must  follow  the  ideals  of  today,  no  matter  what  lingering 
thoughts  of  adniirati(jn  they  may  still  cherish  of  the  line  ])oints 
of  the  older  types. 

The  Silver  Wyandotte  male,  described  and  illustrated  in 
the  American  Standard  of  Perfection  of  V)\5  {Plate  1). 
does  not  exist  in  the  fiesh,  but  is  the  ideal  to  be  worked  for  by 
the  breeder.  Cocks  and  cockerels  have  been  bred  and  ex- 
hibited which  a])proximated  closely  in  one  or  more  sections  to 
this  Standard  color  marking,  but  not  in  all,  and  probably  none 
ever  will.  But  with  hens  and  pullets,  the  Standard  ideal  in 
color  is  more- noticeably  approached,  in  fact  some  nearly  equal 
it  in  beautiful  lacing,  albeit  not  in  type.  The  Standard  illus- 
tration of  the  female  Silver  Wyandotte  (Plate  2)  conveys 
the  advanced  and  accepted  ideal  in  color  markings,  exhibiting 

Note. — As  the  Golden  Wyandotte  has  the  same  system  of  lacing  as  the 
Silver,  except  that  the  white  of  the  Silver  variety  is  replaced  by  golden 
bay  in  the  Gulden  variety,  the  description  of  Silver  Wyandottes  alone  is 
given  here. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  139 

in  a  marked  degree  the  beautiful  Sebright  form  of  lacing  on 
the  breast,  back  and  wing  sections. 

The  American  Standard  of  Perfection  describes  a  laced 
feather  as  follows :  "White,  laced  with  a  narrow,  lustrous, 
greenish-black,  sharply  defined  lacing  to  conform  to  edge  of 
feather."  This  clearly  and  unmistakably  conveys  to  the  mind 
the  Sebright  form  of  lacing,  which  was  first  adopted  as  an 
ideal  by  English  breeders  of  Silver  VVyandottes  and,  more  re- 
cently, by  progressive  American  breeders. 

The  wing-color  markings  present  another  problem  for 
judges  to  solve  when  handling  the  large  or  open-centered  Sil- 
ver Wyandottes,  for  these  are  apt  to  exhibit  primaries  and 
secondaries  which  are  gray  and  mossy  instead  of  being  sound 
in  their  black  and  white  sections.  Being  invisible  on  the  sur- 
face, as  a  rule,  such  defective  wing  feathers  must  not  be  severe- 
ly handicapped,  one  point  being  sufticient  in  most  instances, 
with  either  males  or  females.  Mossy  tail  coverts  are  a  much 
more  serious  defect  as  they  are  visible  and  destroy  the  har- 
monious color  blending  with  the  other  sections.  It  is  rare  now 
to  find  such  mossy  feathers  in  the  tails  of  modern  exhibition 
Silver  Wyandotte  females,  so  that  a  handicap  of  two  or  three 
points  is  none  too  severe,  when  such  are  found. 

Color  of  eyes  must  be  carefully  observed  by  the  judge,  as 
the  Standard  demands  a  reddish-bay  eye  and  while  a  bay  or 
pale  brown  eye  is  a  minor  fault,  a  pearl  eye  is  a  major  one, 
which  deserves  a  handicap  of  one  point  at  least. 

Color  of  shanks  and  toes  is  described  simply  as  being  yel- 
low, so  it  may  range  from  a  light  canary  to  a  deep  orange  and 
rarely,  if  ever,  is  cut  as  defective,  except  where  dark  spots  or 
dusky  shadings  on  females  may  appear,  which  is  the  exception 
and  not  the  rule  in  Silver  Wyandottes. 

Color  Markings  of  Neck,  Back  and  Wings  of  Males. — In 
Plate  1,  the  ideal  Standard  Silver  Wyandotte  male  is  illustrat- 
ed, but  the  judge  who  expects  to  find  such  color  markings  in  a 
living  specimen  will  be  disappointed  for  the  obvious  reason 
that  the  perfect  specimen  has  not  been  bred  and  never  will  be. 

The  American  Standard  of  Perfection,  1915  edition,  de- 
scribes the  color  of  the  neck  and  back  as  follows:  "Hackle, 
web  of  feather  lustrous  greenish-black  with  a  narrow  edging 
of  silvery  white,  uniform  in  width  extending  around  point  of 
feather;  shaft  of  feather,  white;  back,  silvery  white,  saddle 
silvery  white  in  appearance,  a  black  stripe  through  each 
feather,  laced  with  white,  conforming  to  shape  of  center,  the 
black  lacing  along  diamond  shaped  center  of  white." 


140  AMEKICAX  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

The  ideal  Silver  \\  yandotte  should  have  a  silvery  white 
surface  color,  from  head  to  tail,  over  neck  and  back,  extend- 
ing over  the  wing-bows,  with  the  outer  tips  of  the  striping  in 
the  hackle  and  saddle  feathers  showing  below  the  white  sur- 

PLATK  19. 


SUA  l-:k  W  YANDOTTE  MALE  COLOR. 

Gjckerel  slunving  excellent  wing-bar  lacing,  excellent  secondaries,  and 
fair  primaries,  as  good  as  those  of  the  average  winner.  Saddle  shows 
consideraI)le  smuttiness  on  back.  A  straight  cockerel-bred  specimen  from 
smutty  backed  females. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  141 

face  or  top  color,  except  near  the  root  of  the  tail  where  the 
shorter  saddle  feathers  and  lesser  tail  coverts  should  be  more 
distinct  in  their  markings.  The  wing-bar  must  consist  of  a 
double  row  of  laced  feathers  and  if  an  upper  or  third  row 

PLATE  20. 


SILVER  WYANDOTTE  MALE  COLOR. 

Cockerel  from  a  straight  cockerel-bred  line  of  winners,  showing  about 
the  proper  tone  of  under-color  and  about  the  correct  amount  of  striping  in 
hackle  and  saddle. 


142 


AMERICAN   POILTUY   ASSOCIATIOX 
PLATR  21. 


PROPERLY  LACKD  FRATHERS. 

1 — Wing-front.  2 — Wing-bow.  3 — Wing-bow.  4 — Wing-l)ar.  The 
above  illustrates  the  best  quality  that  Artist  Schilling  has  been  able  to 
secure.     They  represent  nearly  perfect  cnlorinu;  and  distrilmtioM  nf   Cdior. 

exhibits  fine,  crescentic  lacini;-  on  tlic  lower  web  of  the  feath- 
ers, all  the  better  for  it  adds  to  the  beauty  of  the  winj^-bar 
lacing.  The  secondaries  are  black  on  the  upper  web.  and  white 
on  the  lower,  but  the  white  should  be  laced  with  a  very  nar- 
row band  of  intense,  greenish-black,  widening  at  the  tip. 

The  primaries  are  black,  the  lower  web  being  edged  with 
white,  but  in  the  open-laced  type  of  Silver  Wyandotte  males, 
solid  black  primaries  are  seldom  found,  wdiich  although  a 
Standard  defect,  is  not  a  serious  one.  which  should  be  treated 
leniently  by  the  judge. 

The  most  serious  defects  in  the  surface  color  of  the  neck, 
back  and  wnng-bows  are  brassiness  and  smut,  and  both  must 
be  severely  punished  when  judging  .Sihcr  Wyandottes  by  cotu- 
parison  or  score  card. 

The  beautiful  Silver  Wyandotte  female  feather  chart.  Plate 
21.  illustrates  the  approximate  ideal  in  color  markings  reached 
by  breeders  of  Silver  Wyandottcs  in  this  country. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


CHAPTER  II. 


BREEDING  SILVER  WYANDOTTES. 

DOUBLE  matings  have  been  necessary  to  produce  exhi- 
bition males  and  females  in  the  past,  and  no  doubt  will 
be  in  the  future,  owing  to  present  Standard  require- 
ments, which  are  antagonistic  to  the  single  matings.  One  of 
America's  most  successful  breeders  of  Silver  Wyandottes.  J.  C. 
Jodrey,  several  years  ago  expressed  his  views  on  this  subject 
of  double  mating  frankly,  as  follows : 

"We  are  now  breeding  males  having  wing-bows  composed 
of  laced  coverts  with  white,  open  centers,  and  the  more  free- 
dom we  have  in  this  respect,  the  longer  the  centers  will  be 
which  can  be  produced  on  the  wing-bow  and  back  of  the 
female. 

"Dark  slate  under-color  in  males  is  the  worst  feature  we 
have  to  contend  with,  as  we  cannot  expect  to  breed  high-class 
females  with  it,  but  without  it  we  sulTer  in  the  show  room. 
It  is  fast  driving  breeders  to  double  matings  ;  for  27  years'  ex- 
perience convinces  me  that  it  is  not  possible  to  breed  clean 
backed  females  with  oval  centers  from  males  with  dark  slate 
under-color  and,  more  than  that,  if  continued  for  any  length  of 
time,  the  Silver  Wyandottes  would  revert  back  to  dark  heav- 
ily-laced ones  of  the  90's. 

"Give  us  a  free  hand  on  under-color  and  in  a  few  years 
males  can  be  produced  with  surface  color  better  than  anything 
seen  today ;  and  high  class  females  also  from  the  same  mating. 

"A  sound  surface  color  in  males  and  dark  slate  in  females, 
is  all  we  need  to  retain  color  in  both  sexes. 

"The  first  hen  at  Madison  Square  Garden  and  Boston  this 
past  season  (1909)  very  nearly  approached  the  ideal,  and  was 
in  some  respects  in  advance  of  the  Standard.  She  was  perfect 
in  type,  uniformly  laced  throughout,  the  lacing  of  lustrous 
black  around  oval  centers  of  clean  white.  The  head  points 
were  perfect,  the  neck  finely  arched  with  Standard  colored 
hackle.  The  centers  of  the  back  were  large  and  oval,  growing 
larger  as  the  saddle  rose  to  the  well  spread  black  tail ;  the 
secondary   tail    coverts    black    with    almost    a    perfect    center. 


144 


AMERICAN  POILTUY   ASSOCIATION 


The  breast  was  a  revelation  from  the  throat  down,  every 
feather  strongly  laced.  The  wing-bars  were  all  that  could  be 
desired." 

PLATE  22. 


i-i-:ArHi-:Rs  c 


IkST   IIUSIUN  PULLKT,  1W9. 


Top  row.  Ixjyinning  at  left,  the  feathers  are  taken  from  the  following 
sections:  Neck,  shoulder,  side  of  breast.  Lower,  from  left  to  right,  top 
of  cushion  or  hack,  second  bar  of  wing  and  body. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


145 


It  will  be  noted  that  the  dark  slate  under-color  objected  to 
by  Mr.  Jodrey  is  not  required  by  the  present  Standard. 

In  Fig.  22,  the  feathers  of  the  first  Silver  Wyandotte  pul- 
let at  Boston  in  1909  are  reproduced,  and  which  at  that  time 
approached  most  closely  to  the  Standard  color  markings,  a 
pullet  Mr.  Jodfrey  considered  the  best  he  ever  bred. 

In   the   feather  chart    (Fig.   23),   the   feathers   of  a   ])ullet- 

PLATE  23. 


FEATHERS  OF  PULLET  BREEDING  MALE. 

The  above  feathers  were  taken  from  the  following  sections :  On  the 
left,  neck  hackle;  center,  first  step  or  row  of  wing-bar;  right,  back  or 
saddle.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the  long,  diamond  shaped  center  is  far 
more  pronounced  in  hackle  than  in  the  saddle  feather  in  pullet-breeding 
males. 


146 


AMi:h'I<'A\    POVLTUY   ASSOCIATION 


breeding  male  are  illustrated.  Mr.  jodrey  who  furni.>;hed  these 
feathers  writes :  "They  are  from  a  male  we  must  use  for 
breeding  pullets.  We  can  produce  as  good  wing  lacing  on 
males  as  on  females."  It  was  a  male  of  this  form  of  color 
markings,  mated  with  a  Standard  colored  female  which  pro- 
duced the  Boston  pullet  of  l<)n<). 

PL.XTl-:  24. 


S1L\ER  W  YAXDUTTL  MALE  HACKLE. 

1 — Idealized.      2 — Best    natural.      3 — Too    dark    and    smoky    edging, 
defective  stripe.    4 — Too  light  in  color  and  poor  stripe. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  147 

PLATE  25. 


SILVER  WYANDOTTE  MALE  WING-BAR. 

1 — Idealized.  2 — Best  natural.  3 — Old  style.  4 — Defective.  No.  1 
represents  an  idealized  wing-bar  feather.  No.  2  shows  the  best  quality 
marking  found  on  the  best  specimens  of  the  present  period.  No.  3  illus- 
trates the  style  demanded  by  the  1910  Standard.  No.  4  shows  the  style  of 
marking  required  by  the  Standard  in  the  period  of  1886. 

To  breed  high-class,  exhibition  females,  select  hens  or  pul- 
lets as  near  the  Standard  color  markings  as  possible,  darker 
or  more  heavily  laced,  rather  than  lighter  or  less  strongly  or 
widely  laced.  Hens  which  have  molted  in  with  clear  centers 
are  preferable  to  pullets.  The  male  to  mate  with  such  females 
should  be  of  the  best  type  available.  Never  mate  two  birds 
of  the  same  type  unless  both  are  good ;  the  surface  color  of  the 
cock,  or  cockerel,  must  be  as  clear  and  bright  as  possible,  the 
black  lacing  being  narrower  and  more  intensive,  the  white  oval 
center  longer  than  in  the  breast  and  wing  coverts  of  the  fe- 
males.   Dark  slate  under-color  in  the  males  should  be  avoided. 


148 


AMERICAX  POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


In  fact  the  1915  American  .^tandard  of  Perfection  no  longer 
demands  "dark  slate",  but  calls  for  slate  in  the  under-color. 
Slate  is  the  proper  shade  of  color,  so  that  dark  slate  or  white 
should  be  avoided,  although  white  is  preferable  from  a  breed- 

IM.ATI-:  26. 


S1L\  i: k   \\^.\.\1J^)1   II.  Al.VLI.   WIM.    I'klM.VUll..-.. 
1— Idealized.     2— I'.est  natural.     3— Defective. 


ing  standpoint.  Do  not  e.\])ect  to  tind  the  long,  (haniond 
shaped  white  centers  in  saddU-  or  lesser  tail  coxerts.  nor  the 
black  stripe  in  the  hackle.  The  femaU'  will  take  care  of  the 
hackles. 

For  breeding  exhibition  males,  select  a  cock  or  cockerel  of 
the  best  available  typical  form  or  sha])e  and  as  near  to  the 
Standard  color  recpiirements  as  possible.  Such  a  male  should 
possess  strong  hackle,  dark  under-color  and  long,  diamond- 
shaped  centers  in  the  saddle.  The  comb  should  be  of  medium 
width,  but  not  too  narrow  ;  a  reddish-bay  eye  is  most  desirable. 
The  tail  should  be  carried  low,  be  well  si)read  and  black. 
With  such  a  male,  mate  females  which  have  good  head  points, 
strong  hackles,  well-laced  breasts,  strong  wing  and  tail  color 
and  are  good  in  type.  Such  a  mating  will  produce  good  re- 
sults,  especially   in   preserving  a   stronger  undercolor   in   the 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  149 

males,  although  the  light  shade  now  allowed  by  the  Standard, 
and  favored  by  breeders,  will  admit  of  using  a  male  with  slate 
under-color,  which  should  prove  of  great  benefit  to  breeders  as 
well  as  Silver  Wyandottes. 

Greater  latitude  in  under-color  will  also  assist  materially  in 
making  single  matings  of  Silver  Wyandottes  a  practical  in- 
stead of  a  theoretical  possibility. 

PLATE  27. 


SILVER  WYANDOTTE  MALE  AND  FEMALE  SECONDARIES. 

1 — Idealized  male  feather.  2 — Average  male  feather.  3 — Defective 
male  feather.     4 — Average  female  feather.     5 — Defective  female  feather. 

Although  the  Standard  requires  a  perfect  male  or  female  secondary 
feather  to  show  only  about  half  of  the  outer  web  white,  it  is  found  that 
some  of  the  best  specimens  possess  secondaries  that  have  the  lower  half 
of  the  feather  entirely  white  except  the  extreme  lower  edge,  which  is  edged 
with  black. 


150 


AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


PLATE  28. 


SILXER  WYANDOTTE  MALE  SADDLE  AND  W  IXG-BOW. 

1 — Idealized.    2 — Best  natural.    3 — Too  light,  lacks  strip.    4 — Too  dark, 
smoky  tips.    5 — Best  natural  wing-bow. 


PLATE  M. 


HEN  FEATHERED  SILVER  WYANDOTTl-:  MALE. 

1— Breast.    2— Wing-bow.    3— Saddle.    4— Tail  covert.    5— Body  fluff. 

The  above  group  represents  feathers  taken  from  a  Silver  Wyandotte 
male  bred  by  Ira  C.  Keller,  who  to  produce  Silver  Wyandotte  pullets  with 
open  centers  and  round  lacing  has  created  a  strain  in  which  the  males  have 
taken  on  the  female  style  of  plumage  in  all  sections  except  hackle.  These 
males  do  not  develop  this  characteristic  until  they  are  two  or  three 
years  old. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  151 


PLATE  29. 


2.  3.  ¥. 

SILVER  WYANDOTTE  MALE  BREAST. 

1 — Idealized.     2 — Best  natural.     3 — Defective,   diamond  point.  4 — De- 
fective, too  heavy  lacing.     5 — Defective,   irregular  lacing. 


PLATE  30. 


Description  on  opiiosite  page 


152  AMEh'ICAX  POULTJiY  AUSUCIATlOX 

PLATE  31. 


SILVER  WYANDOTTE  PULLET  BREEDING  COCK. 

The  above  feathers  were  taken  from  a  winner  at  one  of  the  best 
shows  and  althougli  his  owner  regards  him  as  one  of  the  best  pullet 
breeders,  he  is  also  of  exhibition  quality.  These  feathers  show  considera- 
ble white  center  striping  but  not  so  extreme  as  that  shown  in  Figures  1 
and  2  of  Plate  32,  which  are  from  a  pullet  breeder  of  a  different  color 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  153 

type.  The  present  Standard  calls  for  a  "long,  diamond  shaped  center  of 
white,"  but  the  average  exhibition  male  is  not  as  open  laced  as  is  shown  in 
these  feathers.  These  feathers  are  of  only  average  quality,  as  they  seem 
to  lack  density  of  color  in  the  black  stripe. 

PLATE  32. 


SILVER  WYANDOTTE  PULLET  BREEDING  COCKEREL. 

1  and  2 — Saddle  feathers  at  juncture  of  saddle  and  tail.  3  and  4 — 
Feathers  at  top  of  back  adjoining  saddle. 

The  above  feathers  represent  pullet  breeding  qualities  from  a  strain 
that  has  been  bred  by  extreme  double  matings.  Although  this  male  is 
mossy  and  sooty  in  top  color,  he  is  not  so  black  and  smoky  as  the  one 
whose  feathers  are  shown  on  Plate  31  and  which  is  another  type  of  pullet 
breeding.  Both  these  males  show  wide  open  white  centers,  the  only  mate- 
rial difference  being  that  one  shows  more  black  and  brown  in  surface. 
Figure  5  shows  a  hackle  feather  that  is  considerably  more  open  centered 
than  the  Standard  requires,  but  this  is  a  desirable  pullet  breeding  quality. 


154 


AMUUICAX    PULLTJiY   AtOiOCIATlON 


PLATE  33. 


SILVER  WYANDOTTE  MALE  PULLET  BREEDING  QUALITIES. 

1— Fluflf.      2— Breast.      3— Wing-bar.      4— Shoulder.      5— Wing-bow. 
6— Saddle.     7— Back.     8— Hock.     9— Hackle.     10— Hackle. 

The  above  feathers  were  taken  from  a  rather  short  feathered  pullet 
breeder. 


WYANDOTTE  8TAXDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK 


155 


PLATE  34. 


PULLET  BREEDING   SILVER  WYANDOTTE   MALE. 

1 — Between  wings  on  back.  2 — Saddle.  3 — Saddle  at  base  of  tail.  4 — Wing- 
front.  5 — Above  wing-bar.  6 — Breast.  7 — Body  flufif.  8 — Hackle.  9 — Feathers 
from  two  winning  pullets'  saddles,  these  pullets  sired  by  the  male  from  whicK  the 
top  row  of  feathers  were  taken. 

Regarding  the  above  mating  J.  C.  Jodrey  wrote  :  "Nearly  every  pullet  from  this 
mating  is  absolutely  clear  all  over,  beautifully  laced  and  nearlv  all  of  good  color. 
Some  of  them  have  dark  hackles  which  was  no  fault  of  the  cockerel  but  came  from 
a  previous  mating.  I  have  known  for  years  that  such  a  cock  or  cockerel  will  breed 
clear  backs  but  have  kept  trying  the  clear  ones  for  the  reason  that  I  would  not 
dispose  of  my  surplus  cockerels  unless  they  had  clean  tops.  Having  demonstrated 
a  clean  hackle,  saddle  and  silver  top  in  males  cannot  be  bred  from  an  exhibition  pullet 
I  now  want  to  show  that  such  feathers  as  shown  above  will  produce  the  best  colored 
and  cleanest  laced  pullets  and  hens." 


156 


AMEIilCAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


PLATK  35. 


PULLKT  BkKl-:i)l.\(i    MALK  COLOR. 

Pure  ])ullet  l^rcedins;  Silver  Wyandotte  cock  showing  wide  open  breast 
lacing,  lacing  on  hocks  and  wing  joints.  This  shows  that  in  a  male  of  this 
type  the  wing  fliglits  are  not  very  strong  in  color  of  black  markings.  The 
object  is  to  get  a  male  that  is  open  in  lacing  and  has  the  white  as  white 
and  the  black  as  intense  as  possible.  Such  males  are  usually  mossy  on 
back  and  saddle  as  shown  on  Plate  36. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 

PLATE  36. 


157 


PULLET  BREEDING 
CHARACTERISTICS. 

On  Plate  36  is  shown  a  pullet 
breeding  Silver  Wyandotte  male. 
Note  the  open  white  centers  on 
the  saddle  near  its  juncture  with 
the  tail.  The  feathers  of  these 
males  are  usually  very  pointed  and 
narrow  at  their  ends  and  the  body 
of  the  feather  is  wide  and  round 
in  the  center,  showing  the  white 
open  center.  Much  of  these  white 
centers  lie  under  the  surface  of 
the  plumage  as  shown  in  the  photo. 
There  is  considerable  brown  and 
brassiness  on  the  shoulders  and 
back  of  this  male,  which  is  char- 
acteristic of  males  from  extreme 
pullet  matings. 


PLATE  37. 


MEDIUM  MALE  COLOR. 

Plate  37  shows  the  saddle  of  a 
cockerel  from  a  strain  that  is  not 
bred  to  extremes  in  cockerel  and 
pullet  matings.  The  breeder  recog- 
nizes that  his  best  puUet-bred 
males  are  those  which  show  open 
centers  in  saddle  feathers  that  re- 
semble those  found  on  the  male 
which  is  pure  pullet-bred.  From 
this  line  have  come  males  that 
have  developed  into  hen  feathered 
specimens.  This  male  also  shows 
some  smut  and  brassiness  like  the 
pure  pullet-bred  male  on  Plate  36. 


158 


AMERICAN  POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


INFLUENCE    OF    ENGLISH    SILVER    WYANDOTTE 
BLOOD. 

That  the  lacing  on  American  Silver  W'yandottes  has  been 
greatly  improved  by  the  infusion  of  English  Wyandotte 
blood  is  an  established  fact.  But  this  foreign  blood  is  after 
all  nothing  more  than  that  of  the  original  American  Silver 
Wyandotte,  refined  by  the  skill  and  art  of  English  breeders. 
This  is  clearly  substantiated  by  J.  M.  Philipson  in  his  letter, 
which  ap])ears  in  the  History  of  the  Origin  of  the  Wyandotte 
on  another  ])ago  of  tiiis  Ijook. 

I 'I.  ATI-:  .SS. 


The  al)ove  lien  was  imported  into  tliis  country  from  Australia  and  was 
remarkal)lc  for  licr  round,  regular  lacing.  Practically  no  diamond  i)oints 
are  noticealile  in  her  plumage.  Slie  was  used  for  pullet  breeding  and  pro- 
duced a  few  excellent  specimens  before  she  died  in  1916,  when  she  was 
six  or  eight  years  old. 

Tile  male  is  a  good  illustration  of  a  hen  feathered  pullet  breeder. 
This  cockerel  is  from  a  strain  that  ha  .  not  been  bred  to  extreines  for 
cockerel  and  pullet  matings.  Specimer.  of  this  sort  Iiave  sported  from 
this  strain  and  have  been  used  to  produce  exhibition  pullets. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED   BOOK  159 


PLATE  39. 


i? 


aoo 


2. 


3. 


SILVER  WYANDOTTE  FEMALE  FEATHERS. 

Four  feathers  taken  from  center  of  cushion,  illustrated  the  develop- 
ment of  lacing  during  the  past  twenty-five  years.  1.  The  small  diamond 
center  of  the  period  of  1888.   4.  The  modern  open  center  of  the  present  day. 


PLATE  40. 

^^^y^^k^ 

'oD 

la£1 

/^ 

m 

Up 

m 

pm 

■^l|pP 

■^^ 

>..A 

I. 

2.               3. 

^.          s. 

G-      "^  ^.i^ 

SILVER  WYANDOTTE  FExVIALE  BREAST. 

1 — Idealized.  2 — Best  natural.  3 — Too  narrow  side  lacing.  4 — Too 
heavy  lacing,  black  breaking  into  the  white  and  diamond  point.  5 — Frosted 
edge.  6 — Peppered  center.  7 — Spangled  feather,  lacing  not  extending 
around  the  outer  edge. 


160 


AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


E,^. 


u:     j=  c 


coo 
._    I- 

U     1-     r- 


^2^ 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


161 


111 


ra    a; 


162 


AMERICAN  POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


Many  importations  were  made  by  American  breeders  of 
Silver  Wyandottes  in  the  past  twenty  years,  one  noted  Silver 
Wyandotte  breeder  importing  his  first  English  stock  in  1897 
from  Cornwall,  England,  which  improved  the  lacing  and 
brought  out  the  first  laced  wing-bar  seen  at  the  Boston  show. 
Pullets  from  these  English-American  bred  strains  produced 
winning  pullets  a  few  years  after  and  at  the  Boston  show 
cockerels  of  the  same  blood  won  first  and  second  over  some  of 
the  best  pure-bred  American  birds. 

The  Silver  Wyandotte,  a  native  of  America,  when  exported 
to  England,  returned  with  an  entirely  new  set  of  feathers  and 
more  beautiful  than  American  breeders  have  been  a])le  to 
produce.  The  typical  form  or  shape  of  the  breed,  in  most  in- 
stances, was  destroyed,  l)Ut  in  more  recent  years  it  is  being 

PLATE  43. 


FKATHKK.S  ILLUSTRATIXG   KK\  1-:RS10N. 

1— Back.     2— Wing.     3— Breast. 

These  three  feathers  furnish  striking  ilhistrations  of  "throwing  back," 
or  reversion  to  ancestral  blood  lines,  especially  because  they  were  plucked 
from  a  Silver  Wyandotte  hen  twenty-five  years  after  the  breed  was  stand- 
ardized. The  hen  later  molted  and  put  on  a  new  coat  of  feathers  which 
were  well  laced  and  had  clear  centers. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


163 


PLATE  44. 


FEATHERS  FROM  COCKEREL  BREEDING  Hl.X. 

Top  row,  back  and  saddle  feathers.     Bottom  row,  breast  feathers. 

Females  having  plumage  marked  like  the  above  feathers,  when  mated 
to  exhibition  males  of  this  particular  line,  have  produced  winning  males  at 
New  York  and  Boston  repeatedly.  This  line  of  breeding  is  producing 
clear  top-colored  males  showing  no  mossiness  on  back.  The  hackles  are 
clean  and  well  striped.  While  the  back,  cushion  and  wing-bow  of  the 
cockerel  breeding  female  are  full  of  color  and  too  dark,  the  breast  is  very 
light ;  in  fact  the  feathers  shown  here  are  simply  spangled  on  the  ends. 
This  characteristic  is  claimed  by  breeders  of  this  line  to  produce  open 
lacings  in  the  breast  and  body  fiufif  of  the  males. 


164  AMElilCAX    POVLTHY   ASSOCIATION 

restored  gradually  abroad,  Init  tar  niorc  rapidly  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada. 

The  I"!nglisli  method  of  selecting  breeding  males  and  fe- 
males is  directly  responsibile  for  the  improvement  in  lacing, 
so  evidently  this  entirely  different  system  of  mating  is  the 
correct  one  if  the  highest  type  of  color  markings  in  females 
are  to  be  obtained.  The  English  Wyandotte  breeders  do  not 
look  for  the  95  ])oint  male  with  black  hackle  and  saddle  strip- 
ing and  silvery  top  color.  They  want  a  male  laced  on  back 
and  saddle  and  pullet-laced  on  wing  or  shoulders  and  breast, 
and  if  the  hackle  looks  smoky,  all  the  better. 

The  females  mated  to  such  a  male  must  br  as  free  from 
frosty  or  white  edging  as  possible.  From  such  a  mating  ex- 
hibition males  cannot  be  produced.  The  greatest  fault  with 
American  Silver  Wyandotte  males  today  is  that  I^nglish  blood 
has  gone  into  about  every  part  of  the  country  and  breeders 
persisted  in  trying  to  breed  exhibition  males  from  such  a  mix- 
ture of  blood  with  the  result  that  very  few  males  are  seen 
which  are  free  from  smut  on  hackle,  saddle  and  back. 

The  old.  native  Silver  AVyandotte  will  ])roduce  at  once,  far 
better  than  any  other  blood  in  the  world,  the  hackle  and  sad- 
dle striping  and  top  color,  if  mated  properly.  One  old  and 
successful  Silver  \\^yandotte  breeder,  in  summing  i\p  his  ex- 
perience with  English  Silver  Wyandottes  remarks : 

"I  have  bred  English  stock  since  1896.  but  never  gave  up 
my  old  native  line  and  never  crossed  the  two  lines  excepting 
for  the  production  of  females  and  to  imprt)ve  shape.  I  claim 
now  and  always  have  that  open  and  uniform  lacing  on  females 
and  freedom  from  white  edging  cannot  be  ])ro(luced  from  a 
Standard  colored  male. 

"'IMicn  whv  not  divorce  the  t\\<i  Hnes.  breed  from  the  hiLjIi 


COCKEREL  BREEDING  FEM.ALE  COLOR. 
(See  Plate  45) 

Upper  left  shows  hrcast  and  wings  of  a  cockerel  breeding  female. 
Note  how  the  l)reast  lacing  runs  out  at  the  sides  of  each  feather  and  the 
solidly  marked  wing  primaries. 

Upper  right  shows  a  cockerel  lirecding  female  illustrating  type  and 
fluff  color  marking. 

The  picture  below  shows  a  cockerel  breeding  female  illustrating  char- 
acteristic color  and  markings  of  back,  wings,  etc.  This  female  is  fri>m 
a  line  in  which  extreme  double  mating  is  practiced. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  165 


PLATE  45. 


Description  on  opposite  page 


166 


AMERICAX   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 
PLATE  46. 


Four  pliolos  sliowing  the  development  of  Silver  Wyandotte  males 
since  1900.  Upper  left,  1st  pen  cockerel,  Boston,  1901.  Upper  right,  1st 
cockerel,  Bufifalo,  1907.  Lower  left,  1st  cock,  Madison  Sciuare  tiarden, 
N.  Y.,  1909-10.  Lower  right,  1st  cockerel,  Madison  Square  Garden,  N.  Y., 
1915-16. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  167 

PLATE  47. 


The  above  photos  illustrate  four  generations  of  one  family  of  exhibi- 
tion males,  illustrating  male  cockerel  breeding  qualities.  Upper  left,  1st 
at  Boston,  1901.  Upper  right,  1st  at  Madison  Square  Garden,  N.  Y.,  1908-9. 
Lower  left,  1st  at  Boston,  1912.  Lower  right,  1st  at  Madison  Square  Gar- 
den, N.  Y.,  1915-16.  These  are  four  of  the  six  males  from  this  family  tliat 
have  won  at  New  York  and  Boston  from  1901  to  1915. 


168  AMKUICAX    POI  LTin-    ASSOCIATKtX 

class  silver  top-color  males  for  exhibition  males  and  use  the 
less  pretentious  male  for  pullet-breeding,  provided  he  is  laced 
on  back,  saddle  and  wings,  with  a  breast  as  free  from  edging 
as  possible  and  a  hackle  lacking  a  distinct  black  stripe.  Such  a 
male  will  produce  uniform  lacing  and  clean  backs  on  females. 

"Keep  both  lines  separate,  do  not  cross  over  and  in  a  few 
years  the  breeder  will  find  himself  in  the  middle  of  the  road." 

The  above  advice  on  breeding  Silver  Wvandottes,  especial- 
ly where  it  refers  to  the  h'nglish  method  of  selection  of  breed- 
ers, given  by  a  past  master  in  the  art  of  breeding  exhibition 
Silver  \\^yandottes  in  this  country,  briefly  points  out  the  road 
to  success  for  the  intelligent  and  careful  breeder  to  follow. 
Ij.  H  .D.) 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  169 


PLATE  48. 


■*!^«* 


f 

1 

1 

■ 

^m 

■ 

m 
1 

Md 

1 

Four  females  showing  the  develdpment  of  Silver  Wyandnttes  since 
1899.  Upper  left,  1st  hen,  New  York,  1899.  Upper  right,  a  winner  at 
Chicago,  about  1905.  Lower  left,  winner  at  Madison  Square  Garden,  1909. 
Lower  right,  2nd  pullet  at  Chicago  Coliseum  Show,  1914.  This  last  named 
pullet  shows  wonderful  development  of  the  Sebright  style  of  lacing. 


170  AMERICAS   POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

CHAPTER  III. 
ORIGIN  OF  GOLDEN  WYANDOTTES. 

C()XCl':i\XlXG  the  origin  of  tliis  variety  of  the  Wyan- 
dotte family  we  quote  the  fcillowing-,  by  F.  W.  Proctor, 
from  "The  Wyandottes,"  published  by  Reliable  Poultry 
Journal  Publishing  Company  in  1910: 

"In  its  most  approved  strain,  which  from  its  superior  quali- 
ties was  used  to  feed  the  blood  of  all  others,  the  Golden 
Wyandotte  is  a  lineal  descendant  of  the  original  Ray- 
Whittaker  strain  of  Silvers.  The  foundation  of  this  stock  was 
laid  in  1880,  when  Joseph  McKeen,  of  Omro,  Wisconsin, 
crossed  Silver  Laced  females  purchased  from  Mr.  L.  Whittaker 
with  a  cockerel  of  composite  blood,  the  account  of  which  is 
best  told  in  the  originator's  own  words,  quoted  from  Joseph 
Wallace's  book  upon  the  Wyandottes  published  by  the  Ferris 
Publishing  Company  (Albany  1891)  : 

"  'A  few  years  prior  to  the  time  I  began  to  breed  the  Golden 
Wyandottes,  I  was  breeding  Pea-Comb  Partridge  Cochins, 
and  Single-Comb  Brown  Leghorns;  I  also  procured  some  i^ggs 
of  the  Rose-Comb  Brown  Leghorn  variety  from  T.  J.  Mc- 
Daniel,  South  Hollis,  Me.  He  did  not  claim  that  they  were 
pure-blooded  Leghorns,  but  were  crossed  with  a  fowl,  about 
the  same  color,  that  had  a  rosecomb  and  red  earlobes,  called 
"York  County"  fowls.  I  had  these  Partridge  Cochins,  Brown 
Leghorns  and  Rose-Comb  Leghorns  together,  and  selected 
those  that  had  the  best  rose-combs,  cleanest  yellow  legs  and 
reddest  earlobes.  I  selected  a  large  cockerel  that  had  a  good 
rose-comb,  clean  yellow  legs,  red  earlobes,  and  plumage  about 
the  same  as  a  Partridge  Cochin  male.  I  bred  this  cockerel 
on  some  mongrel  Buff  Cochin  hens  that  came  into  existence 
in  the  following  way :  Some  time  about  1872  or  1873,  I  was 
breeding  some  fine  Buff  Cochins  and  Golden  Sebright  Ban- 
tams. I  let  a  family  named  O'Neil  have  some  eggs  of  both 
these  varieties;  they  raised  the  chickens  and  let  tlu-m  run 
together  with  some  medium-sized  common  fowls  on  a  farm. 

"  'A  few  years  after  this,  I  found,  with  the  O'Neil  family, 
Buff  Cochins  with  yellow  legs,  rose-combs,  light  leg  feather- 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  171 

ing,  and  a  slight  show  of  lacing  on  some  specimens.  I  bred 
the  Partridge  Cochin-Brown  Leghorn  cockerel,  above  men- 
tioned, on  some  of  these  Buff  hens,  and  the  result  was  some 
cockerels  of  a  very  deep  buff,  all  but  the  tail,  and  that  was 
a  shiny  green  black,  with  rose-comb  and  clean,  yellow  legs. 
Dorsey  Smith,  agent  for  the  American  Express  Company,  at 
Wausau,  Wis.,  bought  one  of  these  cockerels  of  me  about  ten 
years  ago,  and  has  bred  a  number  like  him  since.  The  pullets 
were  of  a  kind  of  buff  color  with  more  or  less  penciling  or 
lacing. 

"  'My  farm  I  called  "The  Winnebago  Poultry  Farm"  and 
as  these  fowls  were  raised  there,  I  called  them  "Winnebagoes." 
Now,  from  what  I  have  written,  we  deduce  these  facts :  that 
the  Winnebagoes,  the  top  cross  to  produce  Golden  Wyan- 
dottes,  have  Pea-Comb  Partridge  Cochin,  Rose  and  Single 
Comb  Brown  Leghorn,  Buff  Cochin,  and  I  have  reason  to 
believe,  a  very  little  Golden  Sebright  Bantam  blood  in  them, 
no  Game  blood,  as  some  suppose.  I  believe  that  the  Golden 
Wyandottes  in  the  east  have  Game  blood  in  them.'  " 

"From  the  foregoing  account,  it  is  apparent  that  these 
'Winnebagoes'  bore  a  strong  resemblance  to  the  Rose-Comb 
Rhode  Island  Red  of  today. 

"A  second  breeding  to  the  Silvers,  thus  constituting  the 
stock  of  one-fourth  Winnebago  blood,  further  enriched  the 
plumage,  the  Partridge  Cochin  element  of  their  extraction 
doubtless  contributing  to  the  perfecting  of  their  pattern.  The 
certainty  of  the  Golden  Sebright  bantam  having  had  a  part 
in  the  Winnebago's  derivation  is  by  no  means  established  by 
Mr.  McKeen's  account,  and  there  are  grave  obstacles  to  such 
an  assumption. 

"When  a  bantam  cross  is  once  established,  its  marks  are 
too  unmistakable  for  many  years  following  to  leave  it  a  matter 
of  conjecture.  We  would  not  anticipate  that  such  an  excep- 
tionally vigorous  and  thrifty  a  fowl  as  Mr.  McKeen's  stock  is 
known  to  have  been  from  the  start,  should  have  been  in  part 
derived  from  bantams ;  for  it  is  apparent  that  the  'Winne- 
bagoes' had  power  to  improve  the  size  and  stamina  of  the 
Whitaker  stock  of  Silvers.  It  would  seem  more  credible  that 
the  rose-comb  appearing  upon  these  loosely-bred  Buff'  Cochins 
was  derived  from  the  'medium-sized  common  fowls' — suppos- 
ing there  was  a  male  among  them  fit  to  keep  a  Sebright  bantam 
at  bay — than  to  assume  that  a  bantam  cross  took  place  to 
account  for  that  type  of  comb;  especially  as  all  buff  fowls  of 


172  AMh'iaCAX    POCLTHY   .4S'-SOC/AT/OJV 

Asiatic  derivation  are  prepotent  tt»  throw  ])encik(l  or  laced 
feathers  when  crossed.  In  view  of  tlie  well-ni<^li  unixersal 
proclivity  of  writers  to  ascribe  a  bantam  origin  to  Laced 
\\  yandottes,  this  position  should  be  questioned,  rather  than 
blindly  accepted  in  the  face  of  its  improbability  and  with  no 
better  substantiation  than  bare  conjecture. 

"JMie  McKeen  strain  of  (iolden  \\'yandottes  soon  won  the 
well-merited  honor  of  being  a  better  Wyandotte  in  color  and 
markings  that  its  parent,  the  Silver  variety,  and  no  less  in 
body  type  and  sturdy,  useful  qualities.  Other  strains  of  con- 
temporaneous origin  ai)peared  in  various  sections  of  the  coun- 
try, the  result  of  various  crosses  with  the  Silvers.  An  interest- 
ing instance  of  reversion  was  the  strain  of  W.  K.  Shedd.  of 
Waltham.  Mass.,  which  came  from  breeding  together  distinct 
stocks  of  Silvers.  Whether  recently  derived  from  sources  con- 
taining (jolden  tendencies  or  not,  this  case  illustrates  the  con- 
stant tendency  of  eliminated  color  to  reappear,  and  also  that 
the  accident  of  deposition  of  red  pigment  in  the  centers  of  the 
feathers,  one  way  or  the  other,  is  all  that  differentiates  Silvers 
from  (joldens. 

"The  (iolden  variety,  dating  l)ack  lo  the  year  18S0  for  its 
beginning,  had  so  far  advanced  tcnvard  perfection  in  18SS  that 
it  was  admitted  in  that  year  to  the  Standard  without  opposi- 
tion. As  compared  with  the  Silvers,  they  seem  from  the  start 
to  have  rather  more  than  held  their  own  in  the  esteem  of 
breeders  as  regards  both  superficial  and  practical  qualities. 
Whether  the  Silvers  in  turn  borrowed  a  new  stock  of  these 
traits  from  the  Goldens  does  not  appear  from  any  published 
accounts  of  crossing  for  such  i)uri)ose.  The  (iolden  variety 
had  a  certain  advantage  as  regards  facility  of  plumage  perfec- 
tion which  has  escaped  attention.  A  pattern  of  i)lumage  is 
more  feasibly  evolved  when  the  black  and  red  pigments  are 
working  conjointly.  According  to  the  accredited  accounts  of 
their  origin,  it  was  in  this  order  that  the  Sebright  bantams 
were  i)roduced.  the  Silver  following  the  (Jolden  variety,  and 
derived  from  it." 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED   BOOK  173 


CHAPTER  IV. 

STANDARD  REQUIREMENTS   FOR  COLOR  OF 
GOLDEN  WYANDOTTES. 

Disqualifications. 

Shanks  other  than  yellow  or  dusky  yellow.  (See  general  and 
Wyandotte  disqualifications.) 

COLOR  OF  MALE. 

Head. — Plumage,  golden-bay,  each  feather  having  a  black 
stripe,  tapering  to  a  fine  point  near  its  extremity. 

Beak. — Dark  horn,  shading  to  yellow  at  point. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 

Neck. — Hackle,  web  of  feather,  lustrous  greenish-l^lack,  with  a 
narrow  edging  of  golden-bay,  uniform  in  width,  extending 
around  point  of  feather ;  shaft  of  feather,  golden-bay ;  plu- 
mage in  front  of  hackle,  same  as  breast. 

Wings. — Bows,  golden  bay ;  coverts,  golden  bay  with  narrow, 
lustrous  greenish-black  lacings,  conforming  to  shape  of 
feathers  forming  a  double  bar  of  laced  feathers  across  the 
wings ;  primaries,  black,  lower  edge,  golden-bay ;  second- 
aries, black,  lower  half  of  outer  webs,  golden-bay,  with  a 
narrow  black  edging  wider  at  the  tip,  upper  webs,  edged 
with  golden-bay. 

Back. — Golden-bay ;  saddle,  golden-bay  in  appearance,  a  black 
stripe  through  each  feather,  laced  with  golden-bay,  con- 
forming to  shape  of  center,  the  black  having  a  long,  dia- 
mond-shaped center  of  golden-bay. 

Tail. — ^Black ;  sickles  and  coverts,  lustrous  greenish-black; 
smaller  coverts,  black,  with  diamond-shaped,  golden-bay 
centers,  feathers  laced  with  golden-bay. 

Breast.— Web  of  each  feather,  golden-bay.  laced  with  a  nar- 
row, lustrous  greenish-black,  sharply  defined  lacing,  con- 
forming to  edge  of  feather. 

Body  and  Fluff. — Body,  web  of  each  feather,  golden-bay,  laced 
with  a  narrow,  lustrous  greenish-black,  sharply  defined 
lacing,  conforming  to  edge  of  feather ;  fluff,  slate,  powdered 
with  golden-bay. 


174  AMERICAN   POVLTRY   ASSOCIATION 

Legs  and  Toes. — Thighs,  web  of  each  feather,  golden-bay, 
laced  with  a  narrow,  lustrous  greenish-black,  sharply  de- 
fined lacing,  to  conform  to  edge  of  feather;  shanks  and 
toes,  yellow. 

Under-Color  of  All  Sections. — Slate. 

COLOR  OF  FEMALE. 

Head. — Plumage,  golden-bay. 

Beak. — Dark  horn,  shading  to  yellctw  at  point. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — liright  red. 

Neck. — ( lolden-hay  in  appearance,  with  a  black  center  through 
each  feather,  laced  with  golden-bay ;  shafts  of  feathers, 
golden-bay;  feathers  in  front  of  neck  same  as  breast. 

Wings. — .'^boulders,  bows  and  coverts,  each  feather  golden-bay 
laced  with  a  narrow,  lustrous  greenish-black,  sharply  de- 
fined lacing,  to  conform  to  edge  of  feather  ;  primaries,  black, 
lower  edges,  golden-bay;  secondaries,  black,  lower  half  of 
outer  webs,  golden-bay  with  narrow,  black  edgings  wider 
at  tips. 

Back. — Each  feather  golden-hay.  laced  with  a  narrow,  lustrous 
greenish-black,  sharply  dehned  lacing,  to  conform  to  edge 
of  feather. 

Tail. — Black,  the  ui)per  sides  of  the  two  top  feathers  edged 
with  golden-bay;  coverts  and  smaller  coverts  black  with 
golden-bay  center. 

Breast. — Each  feather.  gol<k'n-l)ay.  laci'd  with  a  narrow,  lus- 
trous greenish-black,  shar[)ly  deliiu'd  lacing,  to  conform  to 
edge  of  feather. 

Body  and  Fluff. — Body,  each  feather  golden-bay.  laced  with 
a  narrow,  lustrous  greenish-black,  sharply  defined  lacing, 
to  conform  to  edge  of  feather;  fluff,  slate,  powdered  with 
gr)lden-bay. 

Legs  and  Toes. — Thighs,  each  feather  golden-bay.  laced  with 
a  narrow,  lustrous  greenish-black,  sharply  defined  lacing, 
to  conform  to  edge  of  feather;  shanks  and  toes,  yellow. 

Under-Color  of  All  Sections. — Slate. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  175 

CHAPTER  V. 
BREEDING  GOLDEN  WYANDOTTES. 

IT  IS  often  said  that  the  Golden  Wyandotte  is  a  counterpart 
of  the  Silver,  "golden  bay"  being  substituted  for  the 
"white"  of  the  Silver  Wyandotte.  Such  an  explanation 
serves  to  distinguish  the  two  varieties  but  it  does  not  ac- 
count for  the  varying  tendencies  in  breeding. 

Breeders  of  both  varieties  of  laced  Wyandottes  have  said 
that  the  black  and  red  (golden  bay)  are  easier  to  breed  to 
Standard  requirements  than  black  and  white.  Every  judge 
who  has  handled  the  varieties  has  recognized  the  fact  that 
sound  undercolor  and  strong  black  markings  in  wings  are 
more  frequently  found  in  Golden  males  than  in  the  males  of 
the  Silver  variety.  The  white  ground  color  of  the  latter  quite 
naturally  runs  into  the  undercolor,  and  it  frequently  shows  in 
the  wings  to  an  excessive  extent,  and  the  most  careful  breed- 
ing is  required  to  hold  it  in  check. 

The  principal  faults  of  the  Golden  Wyandottes  have  been 
defects  of  shape  but  of  recent  years  great  progress  has  been 
made  in  correcting  them.  Breeders  were  careless  in  respect 
to  comb  and  many  unshapely  combs  were  found  in  the  va- 
riety. The  birds  were  inclined  to  run  long  in  back,  long  in 
legs,  and  to  have  long  or  high  tails.  Good  shape  is  now  found 
in  typical  Golden  Wyandottes,  both  males  and  females,  and 
these  representative  specimens  also  usually  possess  good 
combs.  These  are  important  points  that  every  breeder  should 
seek  to  secure  and  maintain. 

A  rich  ground  color  is  now  bred  in  the  variety.  The  Stand- 
and  calls  for  a  "golden  bay"  color  which  is  not  as  dark  as  the 
rich  bay  of  a  bay  horse  for  the  expression  "golden"  is  used  to 
modify  the  word  "bay".  Gold  is  not  the  fundamental  color ; 
rather,  bay  is  the  principal  color  and  golden  is  used  to  limit 
it  and  better  describe  the  correct  shade  of  color.  A  mistake 
should  not  be  made  in  interpreting  the  Standard  color-term  or 
too  light  a  ground  color  may  be  preferred.  A  light  undercolor 
may  produce  the  tawny  buff  surface;  therefore,  the  Standard 
under-color   should  be   selected   for   breeding. 


176 


AMKItlCAX    P(H  LTRY   A^^SOCIATIOX 


PLATE  49. 


GOLDEX  W  YAXDOI  ri'.  MALI.   IfAlKLI.. 

1 — Idealized.  2 — Best  natural.  3 — Pullet  l)ree(ling  male.  4 — Pullet 
breeding  male.     5 — Defective,  lacks  lustre  and  density  of  black  and  strip. 

Although  the  double  mating  system  is  used  in  breeding  Golden  Wyandottes  it  is 
not  carried  to  such  extremes  as  in  certain  strains  of  Silver  Wyandottes.  In  (loldens 
black,  smoky  surfaced  males  are  not  used,  as  they  are  in  Silvers,  but  a  good  pullet 
breeding  m.nle  shows  hackle  and  .saddle  having  open  centers  like  feathers  3  and  4. 

In  breeding  lacing  nothing  is  more  important  than  open 
(large)  centers  in  the  saddle  of  the  male.  (  Plate  52,  Feathers 
3.  4.  5.)  The  (iolden  male  may  have  a  wider  center  in  saddle 
than  is  defined  as  a  diamond-shaped  center.  Males  with  such 
saddles  as  are  sht)wn  in  Plate  52  ])ro(luce  the  best  lacing  in 
their  pullets. 

White  at  base  of  a  cock's  or  cockerel's  hackle  is  a  bad 
fault.  The  hackle  should  also  be  as  free  as  possible  from 
smutty  or  black  tipping.  The  shaft  of  the  feather  should  be 
golden  bay,  and  the  more  open  the  black  center  is.  in  both 
sexes,  the  more  is  the  bird  esteemed.     Breeders  look  to  the 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


177 


PLATE  50. 


A% 

9Hf  .        '  ^^^ 

1.                  2.              3. 

GOLDEN  WYANDOTTE  MALE  BREAST,   WING-BAR,   BODY 
FLUFF  AND  HOCK. 

1— Upper  breast.  2 — Lower  breast  near  body  fluff.  3 — First  wing-bar. 
A — Second  wing-bar.     5 — Body  fluff.     6 — Hock. 

The  above  represent  best  natural  feathers  from  the  best  present  day 
winners. 


amount  of  lacing  on  the  thighs  and  small  feathers  on  the 
hocks,  also  in  the  body  plumage  and  in  the  small  feathers 
which  cover  the  flesh  of  the  underside  of  the  wings.  Lacing 
is  a  property  of  the  variety  and  it  should  exist  in  good  quan- 
tity and  quality. 

The  lacing  of  the  females  should  be  open  and  round.  A 
V-shaped  point  at  the  end  of  the  shaft,  letting  the  ground  color 
intrude  in  the  form  of  a  V  into  the  black  band  of  lacing  at 
the  tip  of  the  feather,  is  a  fault  that  all  breeders  are  trying 
to  overcome.  The  success  they  are  meeting  is  illustrated  by 
the  feathers  on  Plate  53.  Feather  11  shows  the  V-shaped 
tendency  toward  the  tip.  Some  Golden  Wyandotte  feniales 
are  completel}-  laced  in  that  manner  and  improvement  can 
only  be  secured  by  introducing  a  bird  whose  black  lacing  does 
not  fail  where  it  crosses  the  vane  of  the  feather. 


178  AMEliICA\    POLLTRY   AtiSOUIATlUX 

Some  males  possess  narrow  breast  feathers,  each  of  which 
have  the  V-shaped  tip  described  in  the  preceding  paragraph. 
They  may  be  expected  to  reproduce  this  character  of  lacing. 
A  large,  round  feather,  rather  than  an  ahnond-shaped  feath- 
er, usually  carries  the  best  lacing,  and  it  i)ermits  of  the  open 
centers  being  nicely  displayed  in  the  plumage  of  the  bird; 
hence,  this  shape  and  size  of  individual  feathers  should  be 
bred  in  preference  to  small  ones. 

Mossiness  in  the  ground  color  is  often  found  in  hens,  and 
sometimes  in  pullets  but  such  pullets  are  usually  culled.  Few 
hens  two  years  old  still  retain  clear  open  centers.  To  pro- 
duce clean  (clear)  open  centers,  employ  a  male  bred  from  such 
a  hen,  and  one  that  shows  the  open  centers  in  saddle  and 
hackle  and  open  laced  wing  bar. 

The  lacing  does  not  run  clear  around  the  web  of  the 
feathers  of  some  hens  and  pullets,  particularly  in  their  breast 
sections.  This  is  a  defect.  The  female  should  be  clearly  and 
soundly  laced  in  every  section  except  main  tail  feathers  and 
flights.  The  black  lacing  should  be  of  sound  color,  not  brown- 
ish, and  good  under-color  must  be  bred  from,  to  produce  this 
strength  of  black  lacing. 

Frostings,  or  a  marginal  edging  of  red  around  the  outside 
of  the  black  lacing,  is  a  fault  found  in  many  otherwise  well 
laced  sections  of  both  male  and  female.  Breed  from  a  male 
as  free  as  possible  from  edging  on  breast  to  correct  this  fault. 

Shaftiness  shows  in  the  golden  bay  color  of  the  Golden 
Laced  Wyandotte  when  the  quill  of  the  feather  is  of  a  lighter 
shade  than  the  ground  color.  The  defect  of  shaftiness  is  not 
found  in  the  Silver  laced  variety  because  the  shaft  and  ground 
color  are  both  white.    The  aim  of  the  breeder  of  Golden  Wyan- 


HEN  FEATHERED  GOLDEN  WY.AlXDOTTE  M.\LE. 
(See  Plate  51.) 

1 — Upper  breast.  2 — Lower  breast.  3 — Wing-bar.  4  \\  int'-l)ar. 
5— Center  of  back.     6— Saddle.     7— Tail  covert.     8— Body  fluff. 

The  above  feathers  are  from  one  of  Ira  C.  Keller's  males  bred  from 
a  strain  of  Golden  Wyandottes  that  liavc  been  bred  for  I)road,  open  laced 
feathers.  As  in  the  Silvers,  these  males  do  not  take  on  full  hen  feathered 
plumage  until  the  second  and  third  years.  They  are  used  to  produce 
exhibition  pullets. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  179 


PLATE  51. 


Description  on  opposite  paae 


180 


AMKIflCAK    P(H  LTHY    ASSOCIATIOX 


PLATE  52. 


GOLDKX  \\VAXD()TT1<:  MALI*:  W  IXG-ROW.  BACK  AXD  SADDLl-: 


-Back.      3 — Top    of    saddle.      4 — Sad( 


tail. 


1 — Wing-bow. 
5— Side  of  saddle. 

Tiiese  Ciolden  Wyandotte  feathers  arc  regarded  as  exliiliition  male 
color  and  comply  with  Standard  requirements,  hut  are  more  open  centered 
than  those  of  the  average  Silver  male.  That  is  why  rioldeii  Wyandotte 
males  having  this  quality  breed  better  show  pullets  tlian  the  Silver  males 
with  similar  markings. 


dottcs  is  to  i)n)(liici'  a  ground  color  of  the  same  shade.  The 
only  way  to  stop  producing^  birds  that  have  light  shafts  is  to 
quit  using  shafty  birds  for  breeding  purposes,  and  employ 
those  with  good  colored  (|uills  in  all  sections  and  soinid  under- 
color.    (F.  L.  P.) 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  181 


PLATE  53. 


GOLDEN  WYANDOTTE  FEMALE  FEATHERS. 

1 — Hackle.      2 — Cape.      3 — Shoulder.  4 — Wing-bow.      5 — First    step. 

6 — Wing-bar.  7 — Breast.  8 — Back.  9 — Cushion.  10 — Tail  covert. 
11— Body  fluff.     12— Hock. 

Best  natural  specimens. 


182 


ami:ricax  poultry  association 

PLATE  54. 


l'liutu>  shduiiiK  tlie  development  ol  (...likii  Wj.iiuluiu  iiiaks.  L'ppci  leit,  Ut 
cock  at  New  York,  1899.  Upper  right,  Ut  lieii  al  New  York,  1899.  Lower  lell, 
winner  at  Chicago,  1908.  Lower  right,  1st  lien  at  New  York,  1908,  having  an  egg 
record  of  236  in  one  year. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED   BOOK  183 

PLATE  55. 


Winning  Golden  Wyandottes  from  1909  to  1915.  Upper  left,  1st  cock  at  New 
York,  1909-10.  Upper  right,  1st  hen  New  York,  1909-10.  Lower  left,  winning 
cockerel  at  New  York,  1915.      Lower  right,  winning  pullet  at   New   York,   1915. 


184  AMERICAN   FOULTHY    ASt;oClATI(t.\ 


SECTION     III 


CHAPTER  I. 
WHITE  WYANDOTTES. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  ORIGIN  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 

THE  White  Wyandotte  originated  from  wliite  sports  of 
the  Silver  Laced,  the  original  variety  of  the  Wyandotte 
breed.  It  is  consequently  a  true  Wyandotte  in  name  as 
well  as  in  blood.  B.  M.  Briggs  of  Collins  Center,  N.  Y.,  was 
one  of  the  first  breeders  to  advertise  White  Wyandottes.  in 
1888,  the  size  and  shape  of  his  birds  being  characteristic  of 
the  breed  even  at  that  early  day.  But  George  A.  Towle,  who 
also  resided  in  Western  New  York,  bred  White  Wyandottes  as 
early  as  1872.  F.  A.  Houdlette  of  Massachusetts,  jnoneer 
breeder  and  fancier  of  Silver  Wyandottes,  mated  up  white 
sports  of  the  latter  in  1883  with  excellent  results,  as  they  bred 
true  to  type  and  color.  Other  breeders  of  Silver  Wyandottes 
no  doubt  found  white  sports  no  uncommon  occurrence  among 
the  annual  crop  of  chickens  hatched  and  reared  from  Silver 
Wyandotte  eggs,  but  evidently  did  not  appreciate  their  value 
at  that  early  day,  so  discarded  them.  History  will  credit  the 
three  poultry  breeders  mentioned  above  as  the  originators  and 
disseminators  of  White  Wyandottes. 

Admitted  to  the  Standard,  1888.— It  was  in  1888  that  White 
Wyandottes  were  admitted  to  the  American  Standard  of  Per- 
fection at  the  Buffalo,  X.  Y.,  meeting  of  the  American  Poultry 
Association,  and  from  that  day  up  to  the  present  day  they 
have  enjoyed  uninterrupted  popularity,  not  only  in  this  coun- 
try but  in  Canada  and  England  as  well.  That  a  great  boom 
of  the  White  Wyandotte  was  anticipated  by  close  observers  in 
the  standard-bred  poultry  field  nearly  thirty  years  ago,  the 
following  forecast  by  Rev.  Chas.  L.  Ayer,  in  the  Fancier's 
Gazette   (Indianapolis,  Ind.,  June,  1888),  illustrates: 

"In  an  experience  of  more  than  thirty  years,  I  have  never 
known  a  new  breed  to  start  with  such  an  immense  boom,  and 
with  reason,  for  White  AVyandottes,  with  the  almost  un- 
matched reputation  their  darker  cousins  have  acquired,  with 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  185 

the  added  advantage  of  solid  color  which  standard  torturers 
cannot    tinker     ..." 

While  no  "tinkering"  in  the  color  of  the  plumage  was  done 
by  "Standard  torturers",  an  attempt  was  made  in  1893  to  word 
the  Standard  discription  of  the  ear-lobes  so  that  a  small  speck 
of  white  in  same  would  disqualify  any  specimen  possessing  it, 
but  White  Wyandotte  breeders  frustrated  this  attempt,  sub- 
stituting the  rather  liberal  provision  which  disqualified  only 
those  specmens  having  solid  white  ear-lobes,  which  was  em- 
bodied in  the  American  Standard  of  Perfection  in  1894.  This 
proved  to  be  a  wise  ruling,  as  it  helped  to  build  up  many  fine 
strains  of  White  Wyandottes  and  saved  many  of  the  best 
birds,  which  at  that  period  were  more  or  less  white  in  the 
lobes,  from  going  to  the  block.  White  in  the  ear-lobes  of 
White  Wyandottes  gradually  disappeared  and  today  few  if 
any  specimens  show  it  in  a  marked  degree.  The  present  Stand- 
ard law,  which  makes  one-quarter  positive,  enamel  white  in  the 
ear-lobes  a  disqualification,  is  ample  protection  for  the  Wyan- 
dotte breed,  and  will  meet  with  the  approval  of  all  breeders  of 
standard  White  Wyandottes. 

The  year  1888  proved  one  of  great  importance  to  this  new 
variety  of  the  Wyandotte  breed,  as  some  exceptionally  fine 
specimens  were  exhibited  at  that  early  period  of  their  exist- 
ence. The  White  Wyandotte  cock  "Silver  King"  shown  by 
W.  N.  Croffut,  Binghamton,  N.  Y.,  at  the  Rochester  (N.  Y.) 
show  that  year,  was  probably  the  finest  male  of  the  new  va- 
riety seen  up  to  that  time.  Edgar  Buttery,  in  the  Winsted 
(Conn.)  show  in  1888.  also  made  a  remarkable  exhibit  of 
White  Wyandottes,  which  was  commented  upon  by  the  Poul- 
try Bulletin  as  follows: 

"The  display  of  White  Wyandottes  was  the  feature  of  the 
show.  The  three  pens  of  Edgar  Buttery  were  well-nigh  per- 
fection^— a  grand  lot  of  birds.  The  first  premium  cockerel  was 
a  picture,  perfect  in  profile  and  comb,  elegant  in  plumage  and 
carriage.  He  was  the  center  of  attraction.  He  scored  96J/2 
points,  with  one  point  out  for  weight." 

This  cockerel  was  of  the  compact,  cobby  type  character- 
istic of  the  original  Wyandotte  and  the  most  typical  and  shape- 
ly male  of  the  breed  bred,  and  exhibited  in  1888.  The  pullets 
exhibited  by  Mr.  Buttery  were  also  very  even  in  quality,  both 
shape  and  color  being  excellent.  Of  course  judges  were  then 
more  liberal  in  scoring  this  variety  than  they  are  at  present. 

Soon  after  the  admission  of  White  Wyandottes  to  the 
Standard  in   1888,  breeders  in  New  York  and  New  England 


186  AMERICAN    POULTRY   AlilSOCIATlOS 

Started  pushing  them  to  the  front.  James  Forsyth,  D.  F.  Tay- 
lor, Knapp  Bros.,  Dr.  Howland  and  I.  K.  Felch  being  chefly 
instrumental  and  prominent  in  doing  so.  When  the  new  Madi- 
son Square  Garden  Show  was  opened  in  New  York  in  1891, 
some  excellent  specimens  were  exhibited  in  the  old  and  young 
classes. 

Shape  was  of  paramount  importance  with  breeders  of 
W'yandottes  twenty-five  or  more  years  ago,  and  the  "bird  of 
curves"  seemed  to  be  a  fixed  ideal  in  their  minds,  little  or  no 
attention  being  paid  at  that  time  to  "dead  white"  plumage,  so 
much  thought  of  by  breeders  of  today.  If  the  "sap"  in  the 
feather  did  not  show  on  the  purface  plumage,  little  or  no  im- 
portance was  attached  to  the  yellowish  tinge  in  under-color 
in  the  quills,  a  natural  ctjndition  existing  in  those  early  days. 

White  Wyandotte  Females  Twenty-five  Years  Ago. — Fe- 
male White  Wyandotte  type  in  the  early  days  was  fairly  even, 
which  might  have  been  expected  of  a  variety  made  up  of 
white  sports  of  the  original  Silver  Wyandotte,  and  especially 
so  in  view  of  the  fact  that  some  individual  hen  of  the  latter 
breed  laid  the  eggs  which  produced  the  white  chickens.  The 
latter  naturally  inherited  the  shape  characteristics  of  their 
dam  and  if  the  latter  possessed  superior  Wyandotte  type,  the 
progeny,  especially  the  pullets,  would  develop  equally  good 
type  when  fully  matured. 

The  White  Wyandotte  female  illustrated  in  Figure  35, 
Page  91,  is  reprinted  from  Felch,  Babcock  and  Lee's  "Philoso- 
phy of  Judging."  It  is  an  artist's  model  and  not  a  photo- 
graphic reproduction  of  the  prevailing  type  in  1888. 

It  was  in  1893  that  the  real  upward  growth  of  the  White 
Wyandotte  started,  not  only  in  New  England  and  New  York, 
but  in  the  West.  At  the  World's  Fair.  Chicago.  111.,  in  Oc- 
tober of  that  year  and  at  the  Madison  Square  Garden  Show  of 
1894,  the  entries  in  the  White  Wyandotte  classes,  while  small, 
were  represented  by  specimens  of  such  exceptional  merit  as  to 
attract  the  attention  of  good  fanciers  and  shrewd  breeders, 
who  were  quick  to  grasp  the  opportunity  and  to  see  the  great 
future  in  store  for  this  variety,  from  the  commercial  standpoint. 

At  Chicago  in  1893.  the  White  Wyandotte  classes  consist- 
ed of  three  cocks,  five  hens,  six  cockerels,  seven  pullets  and 
two  pens.  The  exhibitors  included  Knapp  Bros.,  Fabius, 
N.  Y.,  D.  F.  Taylor,  DeRuytcr.  N.  Y..  Chas.  McClave.  New 
London,  Ohio,  and  Geo.  G.  McCormick.  London.  Canada. 
The  first  prize  cock  bird  was  a  bird  of  excellent  Wyandotte 
character,  with  pure  white  plumage,  shown  in  good  condi- 


d 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  187 

tion.  He  was  bred  by  Mr.  McCormick.  The  cockerels  were 
not  as  strong-,  being  undeveloped,  but  one  cockerel  shown  by 
D.  F.  Taylor  was  a  picture  of  Wyandotte  type,  having  fine 
comb  and  plumage,  but  was  disqualified  for  a  speck  of  gray  in 
his  feathers,  a  disqualification  in  the  Standard  of  1888  but 
abolished  in  later  editions.  The  color  of  the  first  prize  cock- 
erel (McClave)  was  rather  creamy,  the  comb  being  only  fair, 
but  the  bird  had  size  and  shape.  Second  (Knapp  Bros.)  and 
third  (C.  J.  Daniel)  cockerels  were  small  but  very  good  in 
shape  and  color.  The  first  prize  hen  (Knapp  Bros.)  and  first 
(Knapp)  and  second  (Taylor)  prize  pullets  were  excellent  in 
type  and  color,  but  the  first  prize  pen  (Knapp  Bros.)  at- 
tracted the  most  attention,  being  shown  in  superb  condition, 
with  male  and  females  of  a  very  high  order  of  excellence  in 
both  shape  and  color. 

It  was  at  the  Madison  Square  Garden  Show,  New  York, 
in  1894,  where  the  so-called  blocky  type  of  the  White  Wyan- 
dotte had  its  start.  James  Forsyth  exhibited  a  small  but  select 
string  at  that  show,  winning  all  the  blue  ribbons,  his  first  prize 
pullet  being  a  very  large,  symmetrical  bird  of  a  type  much  in 
favor  today,  possessing  the  coveted  "dead  white"  plumage. 
And  from  that  day  on,  the  heavier  and  blockier  type  of  White 
Wyandotte  with  intensely  white  plumage  ruled  supreme  in 
the  show  room. 

J.  M.  Dexter,  of  Camden,  N.  Y.,  exhibited  a  pair  of  White 
Wyandotte  chicks  at  the  Orange  County  Fair,  Middletown, 
N.  Y.,  in  September,  1894,  which  attracted  much  attention 
from  Wyandotte  experts,  owing  to  their  good  size,  elegant, 
clear  color  of  plumage,  good  legs  and  feet,  the  only  fault — at 
that  time — being  that  the  male  bird  was  not  quite  high  enough 
on  his  legs  for  a  typical  Wyandotte.  In  the  same  year,  C.  F.  A. 
Smith,  of  Waltham,  Mass.,  exhibited  "Promoter",  a  grand 
White  Wyandotte  cock,  who  played  an  important  part  in  the 
the  history  of  White  Wyandottes,  his  blood  being  diffused 
throughout  several  noted  strains  in  New  England.  This 
cock  was  exceptionally  good  in  type,  size  and  color,  but  the 
female  line  bred  by  Mr.  Smith  possessed  heavier  body  and 
flufif  and  shorter  and  higher  cushioned  back,  the  hens  showing 
Cochin  shape  characteristics  in  this  respect,  the  same  as  will 
e  found  in  some  of  the  winning  hens  bred  and  exhibited  today. 

It  was  at  the  Madison  Square  Garden  Show,  New  York,  in 
895,  that  John  B.  Felt,  of  Massachusetts,  made  his  first  ap- 
pearance with  a  fine  string  of  birds,  capturing  all  the  first  priz- 
es from  such  noted  breeders  as  James  Forsyth,  J.  M.  Dexter 


188  AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

and  J.  C.  Haynes.  For  several  years  afterwards,  the  Felt 
White  W'yandottcs  were  in  the  front  rank,  beating  all  comers. 

It  was  at  the  first  Bc^ston  Show,  held  in  Mechanic's  Build- 
ing, 1896,  that  the  largest  and  best  classes  of  White  Wyan- 
dottes  ever  exhibited  up  to  that  time,  at  any  show  in  the  Unit- 
ed States,  were  penned.  The  entries  numbered  ten  cocks, 
fifteen  hens,  twenty-three  cockerels,  twenty-five  pullets  and 
eight  pens.  It  was  a  battle  royal  for  the  honors.  Mr.  Felt 
winning  over  Dr.  A.  A.  Howland's  White  Wyandotte  cock 
with  a  bird  shown  in  superior  condition  and  having  better 
head  points;  otherwise  these  two  beautiful  specimens  were 
equal  in  merit,  the  best  pair  of  old  males  seen  up  to  that  time. 
Arthur  G.  Duston,  of  Massachusetts,  began  his  show  career 
at  this  great  Boston  Wyandotte  exhibit,  by  winning  first  prize 
with  a  superior  cockerel,  a  bird  fine  in  type,  white  in  plum- 
age, with  excellent  head  points,  and  shown  in  the  pink  of 
condition.  This  1896  Boston  Show  made  White  Wyandotte 
history,  and  launched  the  modern  type  of  the  variety  on  the 
sea  of  popularity.  At  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  the  same  year,  a  great 
exhibit  of  White  Wyandottes  was  made  by  D.  F.  Taylor,  Jos. 
N.  Prue,  J.  F.  Tallinger,  G.  N.  Mann,  and  other  breeders  of 
more  or  less  prominence.  The  boom  spread  over  the  United 
States  and  into  Canada,  with  a  most  salutory  effect  on  the 
development  of  the  modern  W^hite  Wyandotte. 

Very  Popular  in  England. — White  Wyandottes  have  be- 
come very  popular  in  ICngiand  in  recent  years,  the  reason  for 
which  is  clearly  set  forth  in  an  article  entitled  "Why  Are 
White  Wyandottes  So  Popular?",  contributed  to  The  Poultry 
World,  England,  November,  1912,  by  the  well-known  Wyan- 
dotte breeder,  T.  H.  Furness,  who  in  his  introductory  para- 
graphs, remarks: 

"I  think  I  can  safely  say  that  if  there  is  one  breed  of  poul- 
try that  has  made  more  progress  and  become  more  popular 
than  another  during  the  last  few  years  it  is  the  White  Wyan- 
dotte. Some  years  ago  there  a])peared  in  the  Wyandotte  Club 
Year  Book  a  Review  of  the  White  Wyandottes.  which  reads : 
■Whites  do  not  seem  to  grovv  in  popularity,  although  a  most 
handsome  fowl,  easy  to  breed  and  hardy  to  rear.  It  is  not 
easy  to  understand  the  reason,  unless  it  is  that  judges  lean  to 
other  varieties  in  mixed  classes,  and  classes  of  whites  alone  are 
seldom  seen.' 

"What  then  arc  the  reasons  for  the  unl)ounded  popularity 
which  has  brought  them  right  up  to  the  front  today?  These 
questions,  in  my  opinion,  are  very  easy  to  answer.    In  the  first 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  189 

place,  I  don't  know  of  any  breed  of  poultry  which  can  ap- 
proach the  White  Wyandotte  for  its  handsome  appearance. 
What  looks  nicer  than  a  flock  of  clean  Whites  with  their  yel- 
low legs,  showing  up  in  contrast  of  colors  to  the  green  past- 
ures? Then  comes  the  utility  side  of  the  question,  which  to 
the  majority  is  the  most  important  one,  as  all-round  winter  and 
summer  layers  they  stand  second  to  none,  and  are  no  doubt 
best  of  the  Wynadotte  family  in  these  respects,  which  is  say- 
ing a  good  deal.  Not  once,  but  on  many  occasions,  have  they 
come  out  right  at  the  top  in  the  various  Egg  Laying  Com- 
petitions. 

"They  are  very  useful  birds,  too,  for  the  table,  and  extremely 
hardy  and  easy  to  rear.  Today  the  Whites  are  well  catered 
for,  as  practically  every  show  provides  classes  for  them,  and 
what  entries — it  is  nothing  unusual  to  find  forty  or  fifty  birds 
entered  in  a  single  class. 

"I  believe  I  am  correct  in  saying  that  the  first  White  Wyan- 
dottes  exhibited  in  England  were  those  shown  by  my  father, 
W.  C.  Furness,  at  West  Bromwish.  in  1886,  in  Any  Other 
Variety  classes — a  photograph  of  the  male  appears  in  the 
heading  to  this  article — also  one  of  my  present-day  winning 
White  cockerels  and  pullets,  from  which  it  will  easily  be  seen 
that  great  progress  has  been  made  in  the  improvement  of  type 
and  general  outline  of  the  birds,  also  I  might  add,  in  pureness 
of  color. 

"The  first  show  in  England  where  separate  classes  were 
provided  for  Whites  was  at  Chesterfield  in  1888.  The  'Fan- 
ciers Gazette'  report  of  this  show  says:  'Chesterfield  Show, 
Jan.  21  and  23,  1888.  A  new  class  was  here  introduced  for 
White  Wyandottes.  Chesterfield  seems  to  be  the  home  of  this 
bird,  as  the  first  class  for  the  "laced"  breeds  was  introduced 
here  some  years  ago.  They  appear  to  be  year  by  year  be- 
coming more  popular  in  this  district.  The  Whites  had  only 
six  entries,  but  they  were  of  very  great  merit,  the  first  (Fur- 
ness) a  really  grand  pair,  perfect  in  comb,  and  beautiful  in 
shape,  with  good  legs,  and  in  the  most  perfect  condition ;  sec- 
ond (the  same  owner)  and  a  really  pretty  pair.'  I  don't  think 
anyone  who  then  saw  the  birds  staged,  not  even  their  strong- 
est supporter  and  enthusiast,  would  have  predicted  such  a 
future  for  the  breed." 

White  Wyandottes  from  1896  to  1910.— The  first  really 
large  classes  of  White   Wyandottes  at  the  Madison  Square 

(Concluded  on  page   194.) 


190  AMK}{ICAX   POULTRY    ASSOCIATION 

PLATE  56. 


Twenty  years'  development  in  W'liite  W'yandottcs — sec  Plates  57,  58 
and  59.  Above,  winning  types  of  1895.  Below,  1st  cockerel  Philadelphia, 
1900,  and  1st  cock  New  York,  1901,  also  1st  hen  Boston,  1900. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  191 


PLATE  57. 


Twenty  years'  development  in  White  Wyandottes — See  Plates  56,  58 
and  59.  Above,  1st  pullet  New  York,  1905,  and  1st  cock  Chicago,  1905. 
Below,  1st  cock  New  York,  1910,  and  1st  hen  New  York,  1910. 


192 


AMlJh'ICW     I'OI  J/ntV    ASSOCIATION 


PLATK  58. 


Twenty  years'  development  in  White  Wyandottes — see  Plates  56,  57 
and  59.  Upper  left,  1st  cock  Chicago  Coliseum,  1914.  Upper  right,  1st 
cock,  Crystal  Palace,  N.  V.,  1915.  Lower  left,  1st  cock  Boston,  1916. 
Lower  right,  1st  cock  Boston,  1914. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


193 


PLATE  59. 


Twenty  years'  development  in  White  Wyandottes — see  Plates  56,  57 
and  58.  Upper  left,  1st  hen  Boston,  1912.  Upper  right,  1st  hen  Boston, 
1915.  Lower  left,  1st  pullet  Boston,  1915.  Lower  right,  winning  hen 
Buffalo,  1915. 


194  ^^[^:^^'rcA\  povi.try  A^socfATioN 

Garden  Show.  New  York,  were  at  the  show  hehl  December 
29th.  1896  to  January  2nd.  1897.  when  such  noted  breeders  as 
John  B.  Felt.  Arthur  G.  Diiston.  A.  C.  Hawkins.  James 
Forsyth.  T..  C.  Piser.  Charles  Nixon  and  W.  H.  Shute  ex- 
hibited. There  were  ci^^hty-two  White  Wyandottes  penned 
at  that  show. 

At  Boston,  in  1898.  the  entries  increased  to  134  specimens 
and  at  the  same  show  in  1900  there  were  161  sinjjlc  entries 
and  29  breeding:  pens.  makin<T^  a  total  of  306  White  Wyandottes 
exhibited.  At  the  "Madison  Square  Garden  show  the  same 
winter  168  Wliite  Wyandottes  were  exhibited.  Fntries  at 
the  large  Western  shows  made  correspondingly  rajiid  in- 
creases in  the  number  of  entries,  while  in  Canada  exhibits 
grew  rapidly  larger  each  year. 

At  the  Pan-American  Exposition.  Buffalo.  N.  Y..  lOQl.  240 
White  Wyandottes  were  exhibited,  leading  all  other  varieties 
in  point  of  numbers.  The  largest  entry  of  White  Wyandottes 
at  New  York  was  in  1905,  when  305  entries  were  penned.  The 
greatest  number  exhibited  at  Boston  was  in  1902.  the  total 
being  227  entries,  but  the  latter  do  not  represent  the  actual 
number  of  White  Wyandottes  on  exhibition,  as  a  pen  entry 
contains  five  birds  and  a  display  cage  ten   specimens. 

At  the  New  York  Show  of  1908-09  there  were  381  White 
Wyandottes  penned,  including  241  singles.  24  pens.  2  display 
entries.  But  the  largest  number  of  White  Wvandottes  ever 
exhibited  was  at  St.  Louis  World's  Fair  in  1904.  the  entries 
being  as  follows:  cocks  108.  cockerels  122.  hens  129.  pullets 
148  and  pens  64.  making  a  total  of  827  specimens,  an  unequaled 
record. 

The  entries  at  New  York  1909-10  were  155  singles,  and  23 
pens;  at  Boston  the  same  season  122  single  and  14  pen  en- 
tries were  catalogued.  With  a  three  dollar  entry  fee  at  New 
York  and  a  two  dollar  one  at  Boston  on  single  specimens  and 
five  dollars  for  exhibition  pens  charged,  the  quantity  as  well 
as  quality  of  the  White  Wyandottes  entered  must  be  con- 
sidered remarkable  in  view  of  the  fact  that  the  best  birds 
bred  in  the  Fast  and  in  Canada  have  been  exhibited  at  these 
two  shows. 

Looking  backward  fifteen  or  more  years  and  thinking  over 
the  very  large  classes  of  White  Wyandottes  exhibited  at  our 
leading  shows,  we  confess  that  real  top-notch  specimens  were 
rather  few  and  far  between,  when  compared  with  the  present 
day  White  Wyandotte  classes,  Avhich  exhibit  uniform  ex- 
cellence at  all  American  and  Canadian  exhibitions.     (J.  H.  D.) 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  195 


CHAPTER  II. 

STANDARD  REQUIREMENTS  FOR  COLOR  OF 
WHITE   WYANDOTTES. 

Disqualifications. 
Red,  buff  or  positive  black  in  any  part  of  plumage;  shanks 
other  than  yellow.     (See  general  and  Wyandotte  disqualifi- 
cations.) 

COLOR  OF  MALE  AND  FEMALE. 
Beak.— Yellow. 
Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 
Shanks  and  Toes. — Rich  yellow. 

Plumage. — Web,   fluff'  and   quills   of   feathers   in   all   sections, 
pure  white. 

CHAPTER  HI. 
MATING  TO  IMPROVE  THE  QUALITY. 

TO  PROPERLY  mate  a  pen  of  White  Wyandottes  it  is 
necessary,  first  of  all,  to  have  a  clear  understanding  of 
the  Standard  requirements  for  the  variety.  Without 
this  knowledge  the  breeder  cannot  mate  to  maintain  and  im- 
prove the  good  qualities  of  his  line  nor  can  he  recognize  defects 
that  exist  in  his  breeding  birds  and  mate  to  overcome  them. 

Success  comes  through  mating  individual  birds  that  pos- 
sess the  qualities  desired.  Fanciers  often  make  small  matings 
of  three  or  four  birds  that  every  specimen  may  be  excluded 
that  does  not  possess  the  desired  points. 

There  are  many  sections  to  a  bird,  and  a  great  many  dif- 
ferent points  or  features  to  be  considered  in  mating.  If  some 
particular  quality  is  desired,  which  does  not  exist  in  the  breed- 
er's stock,  the  quickest  way  to  introduce  it,  also  the  cheapest 
way,  is  to  go  out  and  buy  a  bird  that  possesses  it. 

Certain  qualities  often  exist  in   the  male,  but  not  in  the 


PLATE  60. 


\ 


^ 


i^^  jm^-^ 


Wlini,  W  V\.M)()I  IK  MAI.K 


PLATE  61. 


WHITE  WYANDOTTE  FEMALE 


198  .i.i;/;y.7<'.i.\   roi  ltuy  associai lox 

female,  or  vice  versa.  As  an  instance,  the  male  may  have  a 
reddish-bay  eye  and  the  female  a  pearl  or  gray  colored  eye. 
Such  birds  may  be  matt-cl  together.  It  would  be  a  better  mat- 
ing if  both  sexes  possessed  the  Standard  eye,  i.  e.,  reddish-bay, 
but  if  a  perfect  eye  cannot  be  secured  in  l)<)th  sexes,  it  cer- 
tainly should  exist  in  one.  If  both  sexes  arc  (klicitnt  in  eye 
color,  they  should  not  be  mated  together.  Never  mate  together 
birds  that  possess  the  same  defects. 

Breeding  Counts  Most. — A  well  mated  Hock  is  nut  neces- 
sarily composed  of  the  highest  priced  individual  (piality.  It  is 
composed  of  birds  that  represent  the  best  of  breeding  for  gen- 
erations, and  so  mated  that  the  faults  of  the  individual  speci- 
mens and  the  weak  tendencies  of  the  line  may  be  corrected. 

The  skillful  breeder  can  take  White  Wyandotte  hens  that 
are  too  big  and  loose  feathered  for  showing,  and  mate  them 
to  a  neat,  well-fashioned  male,  a  trifle  on  the  small  order,  and 
produce  good  specimens.  This  mating  has  been  looked  on 
with  favor  by  some  Wyandotte  specialists,  and  it  has  been 
said  that  the  necessary  size  is  transmitted  by  the  female,  and 
color  and  head  points  by  the  male. 

The  highest  type  of  exhibition  White  Wyandotte  female 
has  a  decidedly  smooth  surface  to  her  pluiuage.  This  is  so 
desirable,  that  for  years  the  first  prize  for  White  W^yandotte 
pen  at  the  New  York  Show  has  gone  to  a  pen  comjiosed  of  a 
cockerel  and  pullets,  for  the  neatest  and  smoothest  feathering 
is  found  on  the  young  Ijirds.  However,  the  big,  more  abund- 
antly feathered  hens  should  not  be  despised  in  the  breeding 
yard.  If  the  cockerels  have  too  long  legs,  or  their  backs  and 
tails  are  not  sufficiently  furnished  with  plumage,  it  is  ad- 
visable to  employ  some  strong,  blocky,  well-feathered  hens  in 
the  mating.  Such  females  should  produce  a  greater  wealth  of 
plumage  in  their  male  chicks,  and  give  to  these  cockerels  a 
fuller  type. 

Plumage  Influences  Shape. — The  typical  Wyandotte  gets 
much  of  its  sha])e  from  a  properly  developed  and  distributed 
plumage.  A  skillful  titter  can  change  the  apparent  shape 
to  some  extent  by  manipulating  the  plumage,  but  where  the 
perfection  attained  is  the  result  of  breeding,  the  bird  may  be 
expected  to  reproduce  its  (piality. 

A  great  deal  of  misunderstanding  in  respect  to  the  tail  of 
the  White  Wyandotte  has  prevailed  among  many  otherwise 
good  breeders.  In  order  to  secure  a  well  spread  tail,  these 
breeders  have  erred  in  breeding  a  very  low  tail.     WMien  such  a 


WYANDOTTJ^J  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  19!J 

tail  is  full  grown,  it  gives  to  the  bird  a  flat  appearing  back  and 
long  tail.  To  overcome  this,  the  tails  of  both  cocks  and  cock- 
erels have  been  pulled  prior  to  showing,  and  the  birds  exhibited 
with  an  incomplete  growth  of  tail.  1  he  true  Wyandotte  is  a 
bird  of  curves,  and  the  male  should  be  bred  to  carry  his  tail  in 
accordance  with  the  Standard  requirement  of  fifty  degrees 
above  the  horizontal.  Such  a  bird  need  not  carry  a  tail  that 
is  either  unnaturally  short,  or  that  has  been  illegitimately 
treated,  in  order  to  exhibit  the  fine  symmetry  of  the  Standard 
Wyandotte. 

Flat  backed,  low  tailed  females  are  not  good  breeders  of 
this  Standard-tailed  male;  and  preference  should  be  given  in 
the  breeding  yard  to  the  female  which  has  a  Standard  tail 
carried  at  an  angle  of  forty  degrees  above  the  horizontal. 

Excessively  heavy  males  with  sloping  backs  are  not  typical 
of  this  early  maturing  breed.  White  Wyandotte  chicks  should 
grow  and  feather  rapidly  to  maintain  the  reputation  of  the 
variety  as  a  broiler  pro^ducer,  and  this  quality  of  rapid  de- 
velopment may  be  maintained  and  improved  by  breeding  from 
fowls  that  grew  and  feathered  properly  as  chicks. 

Ticking  or  Peppering. — The  most  prevalent  color  defects 
are  brass  and  black  ticking  or  peppering.  These  two  faults 
may  be  found  in  the  same  individual,  but  such  a  one  is  un- 
worthy to  be  used  in  perpetuating  the  variety.  Often  the 
whitest  birds  will  show  upon  close  examination  a  few  black 
flecks  or  ticks.  As  long  as  this  peppering  is  confined  to  neck, 
back  or  breast  feathers,  and  is  very  limited  in  quantity,  it  is  not 
a  disqualification,  and  an  otherwise  good  bird  should  not  be 
discarded  from  the  breeding  pen  for  possessing  it.  If  the 
black  peppering  appears  in  wing  primaries  or  secondaries,  or 
in  the  main  tail  plumage,  then  the  defect  becomes  serious,  for 
the  breeding  of  such  a  bird  may  result  in  an  excessive  amount 
of  peppering  in  the  chicks. 

Stay  White  Color. — Brass  or  straw  color  sometimes  ap- 
pear on  the  neck,  back  and  saddle  plumage  of  males,  and  a 
trace  of  the  same  on  the  hackles  of  females.  Like  rust  on 
tin,  it  is  sometimes  the  result  of  sun  and  rain  working  al- 
ternately. The  plumage  of  some  birds  is  practically  impervious 
to  this  and  other  influences,  and  remains  white  throughout  the 
year.  This  kind  of  plumage  is  termed  "stay  white."  A  stay 
white  bird  may  show  some  ticking,  for  ticking  often  shows  in 
the  whitest  specimens,  but  such  an  one  is  vastly  to  be  pre- 
ferred to  a  brassy  specimen. 


200  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATIOX 

In  order  to  produce  stay  white  males,  it  is  necessary  to 
have  stay  white  breeders.  The  number  of  stay  white  birds 
has  so  increased  that  every  breeder  should  have  one  at  the 
head  of  his  yard. 

Some  White  Wyandottes  exhibit  a  yellow  tone  to  their  un- 
der-plumage,  known  as  creaminess.  In  young  and  newly 
moulted  old  stock,  it  may  be  due  to  sap  or  oil  in  the  feath- 
ers, in  which  case  they  will  become  white  when  they  mature. 
The  birds  of  other  strains  of  White  Wyandottes  may  grow 
a  white  plumage,  the  quills  appearing  flesh  colored  when 
young.  The  best  breeders  are  perpetuating  this  trait  in  their 
lines.  Mr.  Maurice  F.  Delano  writes :  "The  ideal  male  to 
breed  white  quills  is  the  male  whose  pinfeathers  are  always 
pink  in  the  quill  when  coming  in,  and  that  never  show  the 
yellow,  oily  pigment  that  makes  so  many  good  birds  slow  in 
ripening  their  plumage." 

The  white  of  a  White  Wyandotte  may  be  a  chalk  white  or 
a  lustrous  pure  white,  the  latter  being  designated  as  satin 
finish.  This  sheen  or  life  to  the  plumage  is  a  quality  worthy  of 
full  development  through  selective  breeding.  On  this  point, 
Mr.  Delano  has  written :  "Dead  plumage,  without  gloss,  is  as 
unattractive  in  a  white  fowl  as  it  is  in  a  buft'  or  any  other 
color." 

White  Plumage  and  Yellow  Legs. — Some  of  the  early 
breeders  of  White  Wyandottes  considered  it  a  natural  im- 
possibility to  produce  pure  white  plumage  in  combination 
with  rich  yellow  shanks  and  beaks.  It  is  still  true  that  the 
brassy  or  creamy  bird  may  have  the  deepest  yellow  shanks 
and  beak;  however,  the  difficulty  has  been  overcome  to  a  cer- 
tain extent  and  today  pure  white  birds  may  be  seen  which 
possess  Standard  colored  shanks  and  beaks. 

The  depth  of  color  of  the  skin  corresponds  to  the  color  of 
the  shanks  and  beak,  and  birds  grown  on  a  grass  range  and 
fed  yellow  corn  may  have  orange  colored  shanks  and  likewise 
a  rich  yellow  skin,  from  which  grows  an  oily  or  creamy  feather. 
Females  that  have  laid  heavily  may  have  lost  some  of  the  color 
of  their  shanks.  Breeders  kept  in  a  bare  yard,  especially  those 
kept  on  dry,  sandy  soil,  or  in  whose  run  coal  ashes  have  been 
put,  also  bleach  out  in  shank  color.  This  does  not  affect  their 
breeding  value  and  such  breeders  may  be  improved  for  show 
purposes  by  being  allowed  to  run  during  the  summer  months 
on  grass  range,  preferably  on  low  land.  Young  stock  grown 
on  grass  range  will  have  correct  yellow  shanks. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  201 

Spotted  Shanks. — Green  spots  on  the  shanks  of  a  White 
Wyandotte  are  unsightly.  A  small  green  spot  may  be  tolerat- 
ed in  a  female  breeder,  but  several  spots  or  a  large  green  blot 
should  condemn  the  bird.  A  male  that  has  green  in  shanks 
should  not  be  used  for  breeding. 

A  dark  spot  or  stripe  may  also  occasionally  be  found  in  the 
beak,  and  this  is  a  defect.  The  breeder  should  remember  that 
the  only  way  to  get  rid  of  defects  is  to  breed  them  out. 

The  aim  of  the  breeder  should  be  to  produce  the  bird  de- 
scribed by  the  Standard.  In  the  hands  of  some  breeders,  the 
White  Wyandotte  has  passed  through  fads,  but  the  faddists 
have  had  to  either  give  up  breeding,  or  return  to  the  Standard 
type,  which  is  not  only  the  most  practical,  but  also  the  most 
showy. 

The  relative  importance  of  shape  and  color  is  no  longer  an 
important  question.  Competition  is  so  keen  that  the  winners 
must  possess  both  good  shape  and  good  color.     (F.  L.  P.) 

PLATE  62. 


WINNING  WHITE  WYANDOTTES  OF  1915. 

1st  pen  cockerel  Hagerstown  and  N.  Y.  State  Fair,  1915,  and  1st  hen 
Hagerstown  and  N.  Y.  State  Fair,  1915. 


202  .l.l//;/,'/r.i  \     l-oll/lin     ASSitciATloX 


SECTION     IV. 

CHAPTER  I. 
BUFF  WYANDOTTES. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  ORIGIN  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 

THE  Buff  Wyandotte  of  today  is  of  decidedly  mixed  ori- 
gin, being  descended  from  several  distinct  crosses, 
which  became  more  or  less  interbred  in  most  instances, 
while  in  a  few  ist)lated  cases  the  original  blood  lines  were  care- 
fully maintained  by  breeders  of  certain  strains.  When  the  so- 
called  "craze"  for  buff  plumage  became  evident  in  this  coun- 
try and  abroad,  due  to  the  advent  of  two  new  varieties,  namely 
the  Buff'  Orpington  and  Buff'  Leghorn,  which  rapidly  became 
popular,  it  was  not  long  before  Buff  Wyandottes  were  pro- 
duced by  enterprising  New  England  poultry  breeders,  who  se- 
lected light  colored  Rhode  Island  Reds  as  the  quickest  mode 
of  production.  It  was  in  1891  and  several  years  afterward, 
that  these  Rhode  Island  Red  Buff'  Wyandotes  were  exhibited 
at  New  York  and  Philadelphia  by  Dr.  Aldrich  and  R.  G.  Buf- 
fington.  These  early  specimens  were  Buff"  Wyandottes  in 
name  only,  as  they  were  not  only  off-type  but  off'-cok^r  as  well. 
These  faded  Rhode  Island  Reds  played  an  important  part  in 
laying  the  foundation  for  the  breeding  stock  that  was  largely 
used  for  the  purposes  of  building  up  the  Buff'  Wyandotte  that 
would  be  such  in  typical  shape  and  true  buff  color. 

Origin  of  the  Dutcher  Strain. — ^In  1888,  however,  another 
strain  of  Buff'  Wyandottes  originated  from  an  accidental  cross 
of  Golden  and  White  Wyandottes,  a  buff  chick  being  the  re- 
sult. This  happened  in  the  yards  of  George  M.  Brackenbury, 
Auburn,  N.  Y.,  and  led  Mr.  Brackenbury  to  make  further  ex- 
periments. During  the  following  year,  he  mated  the  1888  buff 
chick,  which  proved  to  be  a  cockerel,  with  a  Buff'  Cochin  hen. 
also  mating  a  (iolden  Wyandotte  cock  with  a  Buff'  Cochin 
hen,  and  in  the  following  year  breeding  the  progeny  of  these 
two  strains  together  both  ways,  which  mating  resulted  in  pro- 
ducing more  than   fifty  per  cent  clean-shanked  chickens  and 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED   BOOK  20;^ 

rose  combs.  A  cockerel  from  this  early  mating  proved  to 
be  the  progenitor  of  many  high  class  exhibition  specimens, 
especially  under  the  skillful  handling  of  Frank  J.  Butcher, 
Hopedale,  Mass. 

The  Brackenbury-Dutcher  strain  was  a  Buff  Cochin-White 
and  Golden  Wyandotte  blend,  while  the  Buffington  strain  was 
the  result  of  a  Rhode  Island  Red  and  Silver  Wyandotte  cross. 
F.  L.  Mattison,  South  Shaftesbury,  Vermont,  started  breed- 
ing Buff  Wyandottes  with  birds  exhibited  at  New  York  in 
1892,  which  Mr.  Mattison  purchased  from  Messrs.  Aldrich 
and  Buffington,  who  were  the  exhibitors  of  this  new  variety 
that  year.  Regarding  the  foundation  of  the  Mattison  strain, 
C.  S.  Mattison  in  the  Poultry  Monthly,  November,  1899,  wrote 
as  follows : 

"The  year  previous  to  their  coming  into  my  possession,  my 
brother  wrote  Mr.  Dutcher,  who  had  then  purchased  the  en- 
tire strain  of  Mr.  Brackenbury,  that  unless  he  could  spare  him 
a  male  or  two,  he  would  procure  a  sparsely  feathered  legged 
Buff  Cochin  male.  This  was  necessary  from  the  fact  that  the 
Rhode  Island  Red  Buff's  could  not  hold  their  own  in  competi- 
tion with  the  Cochin-made  Buffs,  which  are  larger,  better  col- 
ored and  had  more  of  the  Wyandotte  shape.  Mr.  Dutcher  sent 
him  an  old  bird  that  came  direct  from  Mr.  Brackenbury  and  a 
son  of  this  bird,  which  have  helped  this  strain  of  Buffs  a 
great  deal. 

"I  think  it  is  a  fact  that  there  is  very  little  of  what  is 
termed  Rhode  Island  Red  blood  in  any  flock  of  Buff  Wyan- 
dottes that  are  prominent  in  the  show-room  today,  and  how 
much  the  present  Buffs  owe  to  the  past  R.  I.  Red  blood  is 
difficult  to  estimate.  It  has  been  equally  as  difficult  to  clean 
up  the  black  in  one  as  the  white  in  the  other  (Buff  Cochin 
strain).  The  feathered  legs  are  equally  as  easily  got  rid  of  as 
the  green  or  willow  legs.  In  the  R.  I.  Reds,  the  slaty  under- 
color offsets  the  light  under-color  of  the  Cochin-made  Buffs, 
and  it  strikes  me  that  the  Cochin-made  Buffs  come  in  for  size 
and  color  that  has  made  the  Buff  Wyandotte  and  Plymouth 
Rock  of  the  present  time.  I  presume  my  experience  and  ob- 
servation have  been  as  extensive  as  any,  and  I  feel  like  taking 
off  my  hat  to  Mr.  Brackenbury,  and  giving  him  the  credit  he 
deserves  in  originating  one  of  the  best  (if  not  the  best)  strains 
of  Buff  Wyandottes  extant." 

Origin  of  Other  Strains. — Mr.  Brackenbury  in  the  Poultry 
Monthly,  February,  1899,  states  that  W.  H.  Nicholoy  founded 


204  AMERICAN   POULTRY   A.SSOCIATWS 

a  Strain  of  Buff  Wyandottes  by  crossing  Golden  Wyandottes 
that  showed  little  if  any  lacing  with  Buff  Cochins  and  White 
Wyandottes.  Nearly  all  other  strains  originated  by  similar 
crosses,  excepting  the  one  founded  by  Chas.  P.  Pond,  whose 
foundation  blood  was  from  an  old  Hamburg-Cochin  cross. 

Prof.  Waldo  11.  Dunn,  Monroe,  Ohio,  contriI:)Uted  to  Poul- 
try, England,  September,  1899,  the  following  data  relating  to 
the  origin  of  various  strains  of  Buff'  Wyandottes : 

"As  regards  the  origin,  reports  are  conflicting  and  various. 
Several  of  the  different  strains  were  produced  by  different 
means.  For  instance,  Mr.  Drevenstedt  says  'Before  Buff 
Wyandottes  became  known  to  the  fancy  we  saw  a  pair  of  birds 
in  a  Philadelphia  bird  dealer'^  shop  that  looked  like  the  Buff 
Wyandottes  of  our  early  shows.  We  bought  these  birds.  They 
were  nothing  but  faded  out  Golden  Wyandottes,  the  black  in 
the  hackles  and  occasional  crescent-tipped  black  leathers  in  the 
body  confirming  that  theory.  The  birds  never  bred  anything, 
for  the  reason  that  ill-luck  prevented  the  raising  of  the  few 
chicks  hatched.  However,  we  succeeded  in  buying  a  pen  of 
these  birds  and  sent  them  to  James  Forsyth  of  Owego,  N.  Y. 
The  latter  bought  a  lot  of  birds  called  Buff  Wyandottes,  but 
which  were  Rhode  Island  Reds  with  rose  combs  in  reality,  at  a 
New  York  show,  the  same  winter  he  received  the  pen  from  us. 
Mr.  Forsyth  founded  his  strain  from  that  collection  of  birds. 
There  was  no  Cochin  blood  in  the  flock  that  we  were 
aware  of." 

"In  1895,  C.  A.  Emery  was  asked  concerning  his  experi- 
ence with  the  Buffs.  He  said,  'In  our  own  experience  we  have 
not  hatched  a  chick  in  Buff  Wyandottes  this  year,  not  buff  in 
color;  several  being  fine  in  surface  and  under-color,  some  light 
buff,  some  too  dark,  but  every  one  a  buff'  in  some  one  of  the 
varied  tints  of  buff".' 

"Joseph  McKeen,  while  he  did  not  claim  to  be  the  origi- 
nator of  this  variety,  bred  from  such  excellent  stock  and  with 
such  wisdom  that  his  strain  is  today  recognized  as  one  of 
the  best,  if  not  the  best  in  America.  They  are  grand  in  under- 
color, being  pure  buff  to  the  skin,  and  of  an  even  surface 
color. 

"M.  F.  Norris  says,  'My  strain  of  Buff  Wyandottes  was  ob- 
tained by  crossing  the  Silver  Wyandottes  and  a  strain  of  fowls 
noted  for  twenty  years  about  Newport,  Rhode  Island,  for  their 
great  laying  and  market  qualities,  known  as  the  Rhode  Island 
Reds.    For  a  new  variety,  they  breed  quite  true  to  color,  few 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  205 

light  specimens  appearing.  Some  of  the  dark  ones  show  a 
little  dark  color  in  neck  feathers ;  this  is  more  noticeable  in 
cockerels  than  in  pullets.  Some  will  appear  in  single  combs, 
after  the  fashion  of  the  early  Silvers.  However,  it  is  not  a 
fact  that  the  Buffs  throw  a  larger  percent  of  culls  than  did  the 
Silvers,  at  about  the  time  of  their  admission  to  the  Standard.' 

"That  Mr.  Norris'  Buffs  are  good  is  to  say  the  truth.  They 
win  in  the  hottest  competition,  yet  produced  by  other  means 
than  those  of  Forsyth's. 

"Though  the  the  Buff  is  still  in  its  infancy,  it  breeds  fairly 
true  to  feather,  probably  truer  than  some  other  new  breeds  in 
their  early  days.  Still,  I  believe  that  a  Buff  free  from  black 
and  ticked  feathers  remains  to  be  produced.  I  have  written  to 
many  fanciers  in  America,  asking  for  such  Buffs,  and  all  an- 
swered, *We  have  none.'  The  one  considered  the  best  in  Amer- 
ica, and  who  produced  the  highest  scoring  cockerel,  said : 
'Some  black  is  visible  in  all  our  pens,  though  some  birds  are 
nearly  free  from  it.'  Another  party  said,  T  do  not  think  there 
are  any  such  Buffs  in  the  world ;  at  least,  I  never  have  heard 
of  one.' 

"A  question  is — what  shade  of  buff  to  breed  from.  ,  I  asked 
Jos.  Winglewitch  a  few  days  since,  and  he  said  Tn  breeding 
from  the  darker  buff  pullets,  the  tendency  is  to  throw  chicks 
with  black  tails,  and  in  breeding  from  light  pullets  you  will  get 
white  feathers  and  a  light  under-color.  So  in  mating  use  a 
standard  male  with  both  shades  of  color  in  the  pullets.'  " 

F.  W.  Proctor,  in  the  chapter  on  Buff  Wyandottes  (The 
Wyandottes,  1909  edition,  Reliable  Poultry  Journal  Publish- 
ing Co.)  sums  up  the  blood  relationship  of  the  various  strains 
as  follows :  "Theoretically,  the  Golden  Wyandotte  had  with- 
in itself  all  the  requirements  for  the  perfecting  of  the  Buff  va- 
riety, given  the  necessary  patience  to  eradicate  the  black  pig- 
ment and  evolve  its  red  equivalent.  This  point  is  suggested  by 
the  mention  of  Golden  specimens  in  which  the  black  lacing  was 
lacking,  suggestive  of  reversion  to  the  similar  colored  fowls 
used  by  McKeen  in  developing  the  Golden  variety.  These  still 
retained  the  objectionable  slate  under-color,  a  short  cut  to 
extirpate  which  was  a  cross  with  the  white  variety.  This 
was  done  by  Mr.  Drevenstedt  with  immediate  results,  and 
this  strain  in  the  hands  of  James  Forsyth  was  very  successful, 
lacking,  however,  the  depth  of  color  shown  in  other  strains,  the 
use  of  white  properly  requiring  to  be  balanced  by  additional 
red,  which  the  Buff  Cochin  blood  effected." 


206  AMi:i{I('A\  I'ttl  LTi:y  associmios 

To  the  Buff  Cochin,  tlic  Buff  Wyandotte  not  only  owes 
its  superior  color  properties,  but  its  size  and  to  a  certain  ex- 
tent its  refinement  in  type  over  the  crude  and  anj^ular  shaped 
specimens  of  the  early  varieties  of  the  last  century 

Buff  Wyandottes  in  1893. — Regarding  the  shape  and  color 
status  of  tlic  tarliir  l')urf  Wyandotte,  Irving  Crocker,  Seneca 
Falls,  N.  Y..  a  noted  Silver  Wyandotte  fancier  and  also  ad- 
mirer of  the  new  buff  variety  at  that  time,  remarked  in  The 
American  Fancier,  Xo\cmlx'r,  1893,  as  follows: 

"It  may  not  be  <,aMierally  understood  that  there  are  two 
distinct  strains  of  Buff'  \\^yandottes.  One  was  made  by  cross- 
ing the  Rhode  Island  Reds  and  the  Silver  Wyandotte,  and  the 
other  by  crossing  the  Buff'  Cochin  and  the  GoldenWyandotte. 
The  former  resulted  in  giving  us  a  fowl  somewhat  smaller  than 
the  Silver  Wyandotte,  having  nice  rose  combs  and  clean  yel- 
low legs,  very  plump  bodies  and  great  layers.  The  latter  cross 
produced  fowls  fully  up  to  the  Wyandotte  Standard  in 
weight,  having  fine  surface  color,  but  showing  considerable 
white  in  under-color,  primaries  and  tail,  together  with  single 
combs  and  feathered  legs. 

"It  will  be  seen  by  this  that  the  Cochin  cross  has  to  father 
the  greater  number  of  defects,  while  it  has  to  its  credit  larger 
size,  better  shape  and  a  more  even  surface  color.  By  com- 
bining the  two  strains  I  have  been  able  to  secure  very  gratify- 
ing results.  I  believe  the  coming  Buff  Wyandotte  will  be  a 
combination  of  this  kind,  using  as  little  of  the  Cochin  blood  as 
possible." 

The  last  paragraph  in  the  above  summarizes  the  facts  relat- 
ing to  the  values  and  defects  of  the  C()mi)nncnt  bloods  used  in 
producing  the  Buff'  Wyandotte,  in  a  clear  and  unmistakable 
manner,  which  will  be  accepted  by  intelligent  and  unprejudiced 
breeders  of  Buff  Wyandottes  with  little  or  no  reservation  or 
criticism.  Mr.  Crocker's  reference  to  the  combination  of  the 
two  strains  resulting  in  gratifying  results,  as  well  as  his  ad- 
vice to  use  as  little  of  the  Cochin  blood  as  possible,  have  been 
justified  by  present  excellent  status  of  the  Buff  Wyandotte, 
both  as  to  shape  and  color. 

Early  Illustrations  of  Buff  Wyandottes. — The  first  hali 
tone  illustration  of  a  pair  of  Buff  Wyandottes  that  api)eared 
in  American  poultry  journals  was  in  1893.  It  was  reproduced 
from  a  wash  drawing  by  Franklane  L.  Sewell,  who  presented 
it  to  T-  IT.  Drevcnsted't,  Editor  of  American  Fancier.  The 
picture,  which  is  reproduced  on  the  next  page,  shows  the  type 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  207 

seen  in  the  best  specimens  of  that  period.  It  was  ten  or  more 
years  later  before  photographic  reproductions  of  noted  win- 
ners appeared  in  the  poultry  press,  the  first  of  which  was 
that  of  the  Bufif  Wyandotte  cockerel,  first  at  Madison  Square 
Garden,  New  York,  1904,  bred  and  exhibited  by  A.  C.  Hawkins, 

PLATE  63. 


EARLY  BUFF  WYANDOTTE  TYPE. 

1st  cockerel  and  1st  pullet  at  New  York,  1893. 

a  specimen  showing  excellent  qualities  for  a  Buff  at  that  time, 
being  good  in  head,  points,  fairly  so  in  type  and  smooth  in 
surface  color.  Regarding  winning  females,  the  Bufif  Wyan- 
dotte hen,  first  at  Boston,  1902,  bred  and  exhibited  by  Matti- 
son  &  Dutcher,  and  photographed  and  illustrated  by  Artist 
Sewell,  the  latter  remarks :  "But  it  was  a  Bufif  Wyandotte  hen 
exhibited  by  Mr.  Dutcher  several  years  later  at  Boston  that 


W8  AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

marked  the  most  distinct  progress  in  breeding  for  color  and 
type  in  this  variety,  for  she  was  not  only  the  best  Buff  Wyan- 
dotte female  seen  up  to  that  time,  but  the  most  even  colored 
one.  And  from  that  day  on.  steady  improvement  in  type  and 
color  was  noticrablc  in  specimens  exhibited  at  all  exhibitions 
throughout  the  country. 

Admitted  to  Standard  in  1898. — Buff  Wyandottes  were  ed- 
mitted  to  the  American  Standard  of  Perfection  at  the  twenty- 
second  annual  meeting  of  the  American  T^oultry  Association, 
held  at  Boston.  Massachusetts.  January.  1898.  The  special 
disqualifications  in  the  first  Standard  for  the  new  variety  were: 
"Solid  white  ear-lobes,  combs  other  than  rose  or  falling  over  to 
one  side  or  so  large  as  to  obstruct  the  sight.  Shanks  other  than 
yellow."  The  general  disqualifications  being  the  same  as  ap- 
plied to  all  other  breeds  having  unfeathered  shanks.  It  will 
be  observed  that  the  1898  Standard  was  extremely  liberal  in  the 
allowance  made  for  white  in  ear-lobes,  but  in  the  description 
of  the  color  of  Buff  \\^yandotees.  it  was  the  first  iniblication  of 
its  kind  to  clearly  define  and  describe  both  the  color  of  the 
male  and  female  in  buff  varieties,  which  read  as  follows: 

"Color  of  the  Male. — Surface  color  throughout,  one  even 
shade  of  rich,  golden  buff,  free  from  shafting  or  mealy  appear- 
ance;  the  head,  neck,  hackle,  back,  wing-bows  and  saddle  rich- 
ly glossed  with  a  metallic  lustre.  Under-color,  a  lighter  shade, 
as  free  as  possible  from  all  foreign  color.  Other  things  being 
equal,  the  specimen  showing  the  richest  under-color  shall  re- 
ceive the  preference.  Black  or  white  showing  in  wing  or  tail 
shall  be  considered  alike  objectionable.  Specimens  showing 
different  shades  of  Buff'  in  neck,  back,  wings  or  breast,  or  in 
two  or  more  of  these  sections  on  either  male  or  female,  shall  be 
considered  a  serious  defect.  One  harmonious  blending  of  buff 
in  all  sections  is  most  desirable. 

"Color  of  the  Female. — Surface  color  throughout,  one  even 
shade  of  rich  golden  buff,  free  from  shafting  or  mealy  appear- 
ance;  the  head  and  neck  plumage  showing  a  metallic  lustre, 
the  same  shade  as  the  rest  of  the  plumage ;  under-color  a  light- 
er shade,  as  free  as  possible  from  all  foreign  color.  Other 
things  being  equal,  the  specimen  showing  the  richest  under- 
color shall  receive  the  preference.  Black  or  white  showing  in 
wings  or  tail  shall  be  considered  alike  objectionable.  Speci- 
mens showing  different  shades  of  buff  in  neck,  back,  wings  or 
breast,  or  in  two  or  more  of  these  sections  on  either  male  or 
female,  shall  be  considered  a  serious  defect.  One  harmonious 
blending  of  buff  in  all  sections  is  most  desirable."    (J-  H.  D.) 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  209 


CHAPTER  11. 


STANDARD  REQUIREMENTS  FOR  COLOR  OF  BUFF 
WYANDOTTES. 

Disqualifications. 

Shanks  other  than  yellow.  (See  general  and  Wyandotte  dis- 
qualifications.) 

COLOR  OF  MALE. 

Beak.— Yellow. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 

Shanks  and  Toes. — Rich  yellow. 

Plumage. — Surface  throughout,  an  even  shade  of  rich,  golden 
buff,  free  from  shafting  or  mealy  appearance ;  the  head, 
neck,  hackle,  back,  wing-bows  and  saddle,  richly  glossed ; 
under-color,  a  lighter  shade,  free  from  foreign  color.  Dif- 
ferent shades  of  bufif  in  two  or  more  sections  is  a  serious 
defect.  A  harmonious  blending  of  buff  in  all  sections  is 
most  desirable. 

COLOR  OF  FEMALE. 

Beak. — Yellow. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 

Shanks  and  Toes. — Rich  yellow. 

Plumage. — Surface  throughout,  an  even  shade  of  rich,  golden 
bufif,  free  from  shafting  or  mealy  appearance ;  the  head  and 
neck  plumage  showing  a  luster  of  the  same  shade  as  the 
rest  of  the  plumage ;  under-color,  a  lighter  shade,  free  from 
foreign  color.  Dififerent  shades  of  bufif  in  two  or  more  sec- 
tions is  a  serious  defect.  A  harmonious  blending  of  bufif 
in  all  sections  is  most  desirable. 


PLATE  64. 


BUKK  WYANDOTTE  MALE 


PLATE  65. 


BUFF  WYANDOTTE  FEMALE 


212 


AM  ERIC  AX    POILTHY   A^SIOCIATION 


CHAPTER  III. 


SUCCESSFUL  METHODS  OF  BREEDING. 


Fl'.W  colors   have   stiniulated   more   interest,   or   attracted 
more  breeders  than  buff,  and  the  golden  hue  of  a  fowl's 
plumage  continues  to  arouse  enthusiasm  among  experts 
and  novices  alike. 

PL.\TE  66. 


BufF  Wyandotte  male  of  the  c)I(l  ^tyle  plumage,  showing  most  pro- 
nouncedly tlie  too  dark  shoulder  and  wing  l)o\v.  In  the  early  days  of  the 
variety,  a  most  common  example  of  unevenness  of  color. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


213 


PLATE  67. 


A   Buff   Wyandotte   female,    showing   uneven   plumage,    including   the 
too  dark  wing  bow. 


The  Buff  Wyandotte  is  one  of  the  most  popular  of  the  buff 
colored  breeds.  Taking-  the  records  of  recent  years,  we  find 
that  where  Buff"  Wyandotte  breeders  gather  the  classes  may  be 
large.  At  the  American  Buff'  Wyandotte  Club  Meet.  Palace 
Show,  New  York  City,  December,  1911,  there  were  220  Buff 
Wyandottes  exhibited,  divided  as  follows :  26  cocks,  38  hens, 
41  cockerels,  45  pullets  and  14  pens.  These  birds  were  shown 
by  38  exhibitors.  The  next  club  meet  at  Toledo,  Ohio,  Janu- 
ary, 1913,  brought  out  267  Buff  Wyandottes.  Again  at  Cleve- 
land, Ohio,  January,  1915,  the  club  show  consisted  of  214 
birds.  At  Chicago,  December  1916,  20  pens  containing  100 
Buff  Wyandottes  were  entered,  while  the  single  classes  com- 
prised 67  more  entries. 

The  quality  of  the  Buff  Wyandotte  has  been  vastly  im- 
proved. Leggy  birds  are  no  longer  to  be  seen  among  the 
winners  in  good  classes.    The  long  spikes,  or  points  over  the 


214 


AMERICAN  POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


top,  of  many  of  the  combs  of  a  decade  ago  have  been  replaced 
by  rounded  points  or  pebbling,  and  correct  spikes.  An  even 
color  has  been  substituted  for  the  variegated  shades  of  buff 
that  the  plumage  of  a  single  specimen  would  once  exhibit. 
The  representative  Buff  Wyandottes  as  seen  today  are  not 
only  of  true  Wyandotte  shape  but  a  harmony  of  color  accom- 
panies tlTcir  symmetry  of  form. 

Ideal  Buff' Color.— \\'hat  is  the  ideal  buff  color?  There 
are  many  shatlcs  of  buff,  a  few  of  which  are  easily  described 
as  cinnamon  buff',  reddish  bufY.  orange  buff",  golden  buff,  lemon 
buff.  The  Standard  calls  for  but  one  of  these.  It  defines  the 
buff'  of  the  ideal  Buff'  Wyandotte  as  "rich,  golden  buff." 


PLATE  68. 


BUFF  \VY.\XD()TTE  FE.VTHFRS. 

Two  hackles,  two  back  and  two  saddle  feathers  showing  a  rich,  even 
shade  of  buff  throughout  surface  and  undercolor. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  215 

There  has  been  more  controversy  over  the  correct  shade  of 
buff  than  over  any  other  color  which  fowls  possess.  Buff  itself 
is  commonly  defined  in  the  dictionaries  as  a  "light  yellowish" 
color.  The  word  "yellow",  however,  does  not  describe  the 
soft  tone  of  buff.  "Buff""  may  vary  and  appear  in  different  hues, 
so  "golden"  is  used  in  the  Standard  text  to  qualify  the  word 
"buff"  and  describe  the  shade  desired.  The  word  "rich"  is  then 
added.    This  attributes  the  quality  of  lustre  to  "golden  buff". 

PLATE  69. 


EXTENDED  WING  OF  BUFF  WYANDOTTE  MALE. 

Clear,  even  shade  of  buff,  with  exception  of  darker  shade  showing  in 
front  row  of  feathers  on  wing  bar. 


216 


AM  ERIC  AX   POULTRY  ASSOCIATIGN 


PLATE  70. 


BUFF  WYANDOTTE  COLOR  DEFECTS.  COMMON  IN  WTXG 
PRIMARIES  OF  MALE  OR  FEMALE 


1 — Black  or  brownish  black,  shading  to  large  portion  of  buff,  peppered 
with  dark  spots  where  black  and  buff  meet.  2 — Largely  black  at  l)ase  and 
along  the  quill,  remainder  buff.  3 — Buff,  with  considerable  black,  shading 
to  gray,  with  white  at  end.  4 — Root  of  feather  white  and  web  next  to 
root  white,  main  portion  of  webl)  buff,  with  white  at  end.  5 — Ideal,  clear 
buff. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


211 


V 


PLATE  71. 


BUFF  WYANDOTTE  COLOR  DEFECTS  COMMON  IN  WING 
SECONDARIES   OF   MALE   OR  FEMALE. 

1 — Black  or  brownish  black,  shading  to  large  portion  of  buflf,  peppered 
with  dark  spots  where  black  and  buff  meet.  2 — Largely  black  at  base  and 
along  quill,  remainder  buff.  3 — Buff  with  considerable  black,  shading  to 
gray,  with  white  at  end.  4 — Root  of  feather  and  web  next  to  root  white, 
main  portion  of  webb  buff,  with  white  at  end.    5 — Ideal,  clear  buff. 


218 


AMERICAX   POULTHY  ASSOCIATION 


A  color  of  the  right  shade  is  not  alone  sufficient.  There  must 
be  a  lustre — the  color  must  be  v^ivid  and  bright. 

The  particular  tone  of  buff  is  often  a  subject  of  contro- 
versy. It  is  hardly  possible  to  disarm  all  argument  by  defining 
an  exact  tone  or  shade.  The  Standard  calls  for  "rich,  golden 
buff" — and  the  subject  will  not  yield  to  further  definition. 
Neither  can  greater  exactness  be  secured  and  conveyed  by 
color-printing  at  this  stage  of  that  art. 

The  Standard  makers  agreed  upon  "rich,  golden  buff"  as 
the  best  expression  that  language  aft'orded  and  they  wisely 
added  "an  even  shade"  and  "a  harmonious  blending  of  buff  in 
all  sections  is  most  desirable."  It  is  this  evenness  of  color 
over  the  entire  bird  that  is  of  more  importance  than  any  par- 

PLATE  72. 


BUFF  WYANDOTTE  DEFECTIVE  TAIL  COLOR. 

Half-tone  from  photograph  of  tail  of  Buff  Wyandotte  cock,  showing 
smaller  sickle  and  larger  tail  covert  marked  with  chestnut  color,  a  not 
uncommon  blemish  in  fine  buff  colored  males.  This  color  is  very  much 
less  defective  than  gray,  black  or  white,  in  buff  varieties. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  219 

PLATE  73. 


BUFF  WYANDOTTE  FEMALE  FEATHERS. 

Back  and  breast  feathers.    Illustrating  the  breeding  value  of  rich  buff- 
colored  quill,  though  undercolor  may  be  very  pale  buff. 


ticular  tone  among  those  that  meet  general  approvaL  The 
progress  of  the  variety  has  been  made  by  securing  an  even 
coat  of  pure  buff,  free  from  red,  black  and  white. 

Buff'  is  the  hardest  to  produce  and  maintain  of  the  three 
solid  colors,  white,  buff'  and  black.  Under  the  score  card,  buff 
specimens  are  handicapped  1  point,  black  specimens  1^  points 
and  white  specimens  2  points,  when  competing  for  sweepstake 
prizes  with  parti-colored  birds.  That  is,  a  95  point  White 
Wyandotte  hen,  a  94^  point  Black  Wyandotte  hen  and  a 
94^^  point  Buff  Wyandotte  hen  would  stand  under  the  handi- 
cap, 93,  93,  and  93^  respectively.  If  a  Laced,  Penciled  or  Co- 
lumbian hen  did  not  score  93^,  the  Buff  would  win  out  as  the 
best  Wyandotte  hen.  A  score  of  94^  honest  points  in  a  Buff 
Wyandotte  hen  represents  a  big  accomplishment. 

Buffs  fade,  particularly  the  females.  The  sun  and  rain  some- 
tirnes  cause  the  feathers  to  become  what  is  known  as  "washed 
out."  While  deterioration  takes  place  in  the  plumage  of  all 
fowls  and  the  moult  is  nature's  provision  for  supplying  the 
fowls  with  a  new  and  beautiful  plumage,  the  effect  is  particu- 
larly noticeable  in  buffs  because  the  soft  tone  of  this  color 
makes  it  especially  susceptible  to  wear. 

The  brightest  buff  is  found  on  the  hackle,  back,  saddle 


220  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

and  wing  bows  of  the  male,  for  the  structure  of  the  feathers 
of  these  sections  of  the  male  is  favorable  to  lustre.  The  neck 
is  the  only  section  of  the  female  in  which  the  feather  con- 
struction is  like  that  of  the  male.  Therefore,  one  of  the  requi- 
sites of  the  female,  to  produce  the  charming  quality  of  buff 
color  admired  in  the  male,  is  a  rightly  colored  hackle. 

PLATE  74. 


BUFF  WYANDOTTE  TAIL  PROPER  AND  TAIL  COVERT,  MALE. 

Ideal  color,  even  shade  of  buff  throughout.    1— Tail  proper.    2— Upper 
tail  proper.    3 — Tail  covert. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  221 

The  breast  feathers  of  the  male  have  a  smoother  struc- 
ture than  his  hackle  and  saddle  feathers  and,  like  those  of  the 
back  and  breast  feathers  of  the  female,  the  barbs  are  perfectly 
and  completely  woven  together.  Accordingly,  a  male  should 
be  picked  for  breeding  whose  breast  carries  the  same  color  as 

PLATE  75. 


12  3. 

BUFF  WYANDOTTE  TAIL  COLOR. 

Half-tone  from  photograph  of  smaller  sickle  (1)  and  tail  covert  (2), 
showing  the  defect  of  being  marked  with  "chestnut"  color.  [See  illustra- 
tion of  complete  tail  (page  218),  showing  same  defect]  Also  a  tail- 
covert  feather  (3)  of  pure  even  shade  of  buff.  No.  2  shows  the  defect  of 
very  light  undercolor. 


222 


AMERICAN  POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


H     _5    .  - 


n  I    K 


c-a  be 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


223 


224  AMERICAN   POULTRY  ASSOCIATIOX 

the  female's  back,  for  the  back  and  breast  plumage  of  the  pul- 
lets may  be  anticipated  by  the  color  of  the  male's  breast 
plumage. 

The  back  of  the  female  may  show  some  sheen,  but  this 
quality  is  usually  limited  to  pullets.  These  females  commonly 
fade  in  color  of  back  and  breast  with  the  first  moult.  The 
undercolor  will  often  remain  good  if  it  was  good  when  the 
bird  was  a  pullet ;  and  this  strength  of  under-color  is  an  indica- 
tion of  good  breeding  value. 

The  Under-Color — The  strongest  toned  buff  under-color 
\\\]\  always  l)c  found  lighter  than  the  surface  color;  however,  a 
strong  surface  color  may  be  accompanied  by  light  under-color. 
In  this  latter  case,  it  seems  as  if  the  color  pigment  had  run  to 
the  web  or  surface,  and  its  concentration  there  had  left  the 
fluff  or  under  plumage  weak  in  color.  The  hackles  of  males 
are  often  weak  in  under-color,  some  white  showing  at  base  of 
feathers.  Some  pullets  are  quite  light  underneath  in  the  back 
section,  yet  quite  pretty  on  top.  These  weaknesses  of  under- 
color are  serious  defects  in  either  the  show  or  breeding  bird. 
A  bird  in  which  the  buff*  is  nicely  distributed  between  the  web 
and  fluff  of  the  feathers  may  fade  on  the  surface,  but  upon 
being  handled  the  rich  tone  of  the  under  plumage  will  prove 
to  be  preserved. 

Black  in  Plumage — Black  is  alwavs  found  with  red  in  the 
plumage  of  fowls  and  it  would  be  difficult  to  find  a  red  speci- 
men free  from  black.  When  the  red  is  weakened  by  dilution 
with  white,  the  black  stubbornly  cleaves  to  its  old  domains,  the 
tails  and  wings.  It  was  some  years  before  a  clear  buff  plumage 
was  bred,  although  clear  wings  and  tails  were  sought  with 
eager  desire  by  every  breeder. 

Pure  buff  wings  appeared  in  pullets,  then  in  cockerels,  and 
the  breeding  of  birds  in  which  the  color  was  so  nicely  con- 
trolled led  to  the  production  of  pullets,  and  then  cockerels,  that 
were  clear  buff  in  tails.  As  the  advancement  was  made,  breed- 
ers were  doubtful  as  to  the  breeding  value  of  clear  wings  and 
tails  once  they  were  produced,  for  it  was  the  common  opinion 
among  breeders  of  Buffs  that  the  color  was  inclined  to  run  out 
and  should  be  strengthened  bv  breeding  birds  that  showed 
some  black  ticking  in  tail.  However,  pure  buff  males  and 
females  are  now  mated  together,  due  caution  being  taken 
against  weak  under-oolor  and  white  in  quills  of  flight  feathers. 

White  a  Serious  Defect — Some  Buffs  show  white  in  the 
web  of  the  wing  primaries  and  secondaries,  also  in  the  main 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  225 

tail  feathers.  White  is  a  fault  detested  by  every  breeder, 
although  it  is  not  possible  to  bring  it  so  completely  under  con- 
trol that  every  specimen  reared  v^^ill  be  free  from  traces  of 
white;  but  buff  itself  is  intermediate  between  red  and  white. 
White  may  suggest  three  things — that  the  bird  is  a  cull,  that 
the  buff  color  has  run  out  in  breeding,  or  that  constitutional 
vigor  has  been  reduced  by  crowded,  dirty  quarters,  improper 


PLATE  78. 


BUFF  WYANDOTTE   DEFECTIVE   FEATHERS. 
Showing  (1)  shafting  in  each  feather,  and  (2)  hght  edging. 

feed  or  vermin.  The  latter  is  a  common  cause  of  white  show- 
ing in  birds  hatched  from  eggs  of  splendidly  bred  and  mated 
stock. 

Sometimes  the  distribution  of  buff  in  a  feather  is  uneven, 
due  to  the  stippling  of  the  buff  with  a  lighter  shade  of  buff, 
which  produces  a  mealy  effect.  Shaftiness  is  also  due  to  an 
incorrect  distribution  of  color,  the  shaft  or  quill  of  the  feather 
being  lighter  or  darker  than  the  web  or  fluff.  These  should  be 
of  an  even  color.     There  should  be  one  color  over  the  entire 


226 


AMHIx'JCAS     I'Ol  IJUY    Assoi  lA  1 1<)\ 


bird,  allowing  for  that  difference  in  brilliancy  due  t<j  structure 
vi  feather  and  n(jt  to  pigmentation.  If  the  breast  is  two  shades 
lighter  than  the  back,  while  the  wing  bows  are  reddish,  the 
bird,  taken  as  a  whole,  might  possess  the  right  quantity  of 
color,  but  it  is  unequally  distributed  and  the  sections  do  not 
blend  harmt)niously.  These  features  of  unevenness  may  result 
from  breeding  a  dark  male  to  light  females,  or  vice  versa. 

It  is  not  advisable  to  mate  two  widely  different  shades  of 
buff  together.  The  result  too  often  is  unevenness  of  color. 
Breed  standard  colored  l)irds  together.  Let  a  little  peppering 
or  black  ticking  in  the  tail  suffice  to  enrich  the  buff  of  the 
progeny,  when  enrichment  is  necessary.     (F.  L.  P.) 


PLATE  79. 


DK\  KL()PMi:XT  OF  HUFF  WYANDOTTFS. 


1st  hen  Boston,  1899.  and  1st  cock  Boston.  1905.  It  will  be  noted  that 
the  male  shown  above  approached  in  many  respects  the  Standard  require- 
ments for  shape  of  the  present  period.  The  female  is  far  too  long  to 
even  approach  the  present  requirements.     See  Plate  80. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


227 


PLATE 


Development  of  Buflf  Wyandottes.  Above,  1st  cock,  Chicago,  1907,  and 
1st  hen  Chicago,  1907.  Below,  1st  hen  Chicago,  1912,  and  1st  cock  Madison 
Square  Garden,  N.  Y,  1912. 


228  AMERICAN  POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


SECTION     V. 

CHAPTER  I. 
PARTRIDGE  WYANDOTTES. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  ORIGIN  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 

PARTRIDGE  WYANDOTES  were  produced  about  the 
same  time  in  the  East  as  in  the  West.  The  color  mark- 
ings in  the  Eastern  and  Western  strains  were  the  same, 
the  Partridge  Cochin  furnishing  color  patterns  in  both,  but  the 
crosses  with  other  varieties  were  different.  There  is  nothing 
vague  or  secret  about  the  origin  of  this  new  variety,  as  re- 
liable data  exists  which,  coming  from  the  originators,  is  sub- 
stantial evidence  of  the  true  origin  of  the  Partridge 
Wyandotte. 

Origin  of  the  Eastern  Strain. — George  H.  Brackenbury, 
Auburn,  N.  Y..  originated  the  Eastern  strain  of  Partridge 
Wyandottes,  and  his  storv  of  its  origin  appeared  in  the  Poultry 
Monthly  for  August,  1891.  under  the  caption  "Golden  Pen- 
ciled Wyandottes."  as  Mr.  Brackenbury  called  the  new  va- 
riety at  that  time,  as  follows: 

"A  Golden  Wyandotte  male  of  Daggett  strain  which  pro- 
duced a  few  pullets  with  inner  lacing  or  penciling  similar  to 
a  Partridge  Cochin  was  bred  back  on  his  own  pullets.  We 
also  have  just  procured  two  hens,  one-half  Golden  Wvandotte 
and  one-half  peacomb  Partridge  Cochin,  penciled  on  wings  and 
breast,  with  a  few  webless  feathers  peeping  from  beneath  the 
scales  on  legs.  These  we  mated  to  the  Das^crett  Golden  Wyan- 
dotte cock  and  expect  to  bring  out  something  peculiar  in  the 
way  of  markings,  and  will,  if  they  turn  out  well,  give  descrip- 
tion of  the  chicks  in  the  Fall." 

Later,  in  some  poultrv  journal.  Mr.  Brackenbury  claimed 
the  first  pullet  of  Partridge  markings  to  have  been  produced 
from  a  peacomb  Partridge  Cochin  hen,  and  remarked:  "She 
had  a  rose  comb  and  almost  clean  legs.  This  pullet  was  the 
starting  point  of  the  strain  of  Golden  Penciled  fPartridge") 
Wyandottes  that  we  have  originated."  In  the  Poultry  Month- 
ly, November,  1894,  Mr.  Brackenbury  stated:  "We  continued 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  229 

to  experiment  during  the  years  1891  and  1892.  In  the  latter 
year  we  introduced  new  blood  from  a  pure  breed  of  fowls  to 
break  up  and  weaken  the  strong  tendency  to  revert  back  to 
the  lacing  of  the  Golden  Wyandotte,  the  result  of  which  mat- 
ing furnished  a  foundation  of  the  shape  and  size  required  when 
again  mated  both  ways  to  Partridge  Cochins  to  produce  a 
typical  Wyandotte  shape." 

The  source  of  this  "new  blood  from  a  pure  breed  of  fowls" 
was  given  by  Ezra  Cornell  several  years  later.  Mr.  Cornell 
being  then  associated  with  Mr.  Blackenbury,  as  the  Golden 
Penciled  Hamburg.  "The  result  of  this  cross  was  then  mated 
to  Partridge  Cochins  both  ways,  that  is,  a  Hamburg- Wyan- 
dotte-Cochin  cross  male  was  mated  to  two  grand  Partridge 
Cochin  females,  and  three  or  four  of  the  best  Hamburg- Wyan- 
dotte-Cochin  cross  females  were  bred  to  a  pullet-breeding  Part- 
ridge Cochin  male."  After  selecting  only  a  few  of  the  best 
specimens  for  breeding  during  the  following  few  years,  more 
Partridge  Cochin  blood  was  then  introduced,  this  time  by  "the 
best  Partridge  Cochin  hen  Byron  D.  Starr  ever  produced. 
This  Partridge  hen  and  her  full  sister  were  used  in  our  second 
infusion  of  Partridge  Cochin  blood,  and  again  in  our  third  and 
last  infusion  of  Partridge  Cochin  blood."  Mr.  Cornell  writes, 
and  adds :  "Each  succeeding  year  we  are  breeding  back  to  one 
hen  now  three  years  old,  of  Golden  Penciled  Wyandotte-Part- 
ridge  Cochin  blood,  resulting  from  the  third  infusion  of  Part- 
ridge Cochin  blood,  and  the  blood  of  this  hen  is  making  itself 
felt  or  seen  in  my  entire  strain  of  Golden  Penciled  (Part- 
ridge) Wyandottes." 

Origin  of  the  Western  Strain. — E.  O.  Thiem,  Dennison, 
Iowa,  and  Joseph  McKeen,  Omro,  Wisconsin,  are  the  origi- 
nators of  the  Western  strain,  both  being  engaged  in  experi- 
menting for  some  years  unknown  to  each  other,  with  the  same 
end  in  view,  namely,  improving  the  heavy  feather-legged  Part- 
ridge Cochin  into  the  clean-legged  and  more  popular  Wyan- 
dotte type,  but  with  the  beautiful  color  markings  of  the  former. 
Mr.  Thiem,  when  he  read  of  Mr.  McKeen's  Golden  Wyan- 
dottes in  1882,  opened  correspondence  with  the  latter,  and 
purchased  some  of  his  stock.  In  1885,  he  visited  Mr.  McKeen 
and  arranged  with  him  to  co-operate  in  the  breeding  and  ex- 
perimenting in  a  Partridge  Wyandotte  cross,  this  being  origi- 
nally intended  as  a  "source  of  improvement  for  the  Goldens." 
As  a  result  of  a  second  visit  in  1888,  a  line  of  breeding  was 
formulated  in  order  to  produce  a  Partridge  Wyandotte  and 


230  AAIElilCAN   PULLTUY   ASSOVIATWN 

Mr.  Thiem  took  back  with  him  a  Winnebago  hen,  a  gift  from 
Mr.  McKeen.  The  history  of  the  Winnebagos  shows  it  to  be 
one  of  the  foundation  crosses  in  the  origin  of  the  Golden 
Wyandotte,  and  they  resembled  the  Rhode  Island  Red  of  to- 
day. Mr.  Thiem's  own  story  of  the  "Evolution  of  the  Part- 
ridge Wyandotte"  as  related  by  him  in  "The  Wyandottes" 
(Reliable  Poultry  Journal  Publishing  Co.  1919)  is  as  follows: 

"The  following  Spring  (1889)  I  mated  this  Winnabago  hen, 
also  two  others,  a  Cornish  Indian,  and  a  (lolden  Wyandotte, 
to  a  peacomb  Partridge  Cochin  male.  The  Golden  Wyandotte 
cross  came  all  with  feathered  legs  and  good  necks,  about  one- 
half  having  rose  combs.  The  Cornish  Indian  cross  excelled 
the  others  in  size,  were  very  dark,  especially  in  the  neck,  but 
cleanly  striped,  and  had  yellow  legs.  The  Winnebago  cross 
was  the  finest  of  all,  with  a  beautiful  penciling  on  the  females, 
the  males  having  a  rich  lustre  upon  the  black  of  breast,  wing 
coverts  and  tail.  In  1890,  I  bred  a  male  of  the  Golden  Wyan- 
dotte cross  to  females  of  the  other  crosses;  and  later  in  the 
season  mated  to  cross-bred  females  the  Partridge  Cochin  male. 
At  the  same  time  I  bred  Partridge  Cochin  hens  to  a  Golden 
Wyandotte  male.  Mr.  McKeen  used  Partridge  Cochin  hens 
with  Winnebago  and  Golden  Wyandotte  males.  These  con- 
stituted the  original  crosses  and  from  that  time  on  we  ex- 
changed birds,  aiming  to  retain  as  large  a  proportion  of  Cochin 
blood  as  possible  and  still  work  for  clean  shanks. 

"Speaking  from  our  experience,  the  originating  of  new 
types  is  not  accomplished  without  endless  labor.  If  it  is  a 
question  of  a  new  breed,  years  of  experiment  are  necessary  be- 
fore such  can  be  successfully  evolved  out  of  the  chaos  that 
naturally  follows  the  mixing  of  dissimilar  breeds.  Even  the 
making  of  a  new  variety, — substituting  one  color  for  another, 
while  retaining  the  breed's  characteristics — if  accomplished, 
as  in  this  instance  by  the  wholesale  mixing  of  breeds,  is  so 
serious  a  task  that  none  should  enter  upon  it  without  feeling 
assured  that  there  is  an  opening  for  such  a  production.  The 
growing  favor  that  this  breed  meets  shows  that  the  making  of 
the  Partridge  Wyandotte  was  well  advised.  Its  color  has  been 
greatly  admired  in  the  Cochin,  but  the  outs  of  that  breed  had 
discouraged  all  but  a  handful  of  breeders.  The  best  penciling 
refused  to  appear  upon  the  specimens  with  the  fullest  plum- 
age, and  the  best  marked  females  would  so  often  be  those  too 
small  to  be  typical  Asiatics.  The  substitution  of  a  Wyandotte 
type  of  body  removed  these  objections. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  231 

"This  Western  strain  of  the  Partridges,  of  which  Mr.  Mc- 
Keen  and  I  were  exclusively  the  originators,  was  of  dissimilar 
makeup  from  the  Eastern  stock  of  the  breed  worked  up  by 
Messrs.  Brackenbury  and  Sarr.  If  their  strain  contained  no 
Cornish  Indian  blood,  of  which  no  mention  is  made,  it  as- 
suredly missed  a  quality  to  which  I  attributed  in  our  own  stock 
much  practical  value.  Upon  the  other  hand,  the  presence  of 
Hamburg  blood  which  they  avow  as  one  of  their  crosses  was 
an  unfavorable  element  considering  the  breed's  perfection 
along  its  recognized  lines  of  excellence.  The  first  mention  of 
Partridge  Wyandottes  in  the  public  press  was  in  the  Poultry 
Monthly  for  October,  1894;  an  article  signed  by  Joseph  Mc- 
Keen  referred  to  the  fact  that  he  and  myself  had  worked  to- 
gether for  a  number  of  years  in  their  production.  Partridges 
were  first  publicly  shown  in  December,  1894.  at  the  Mid-Con- 
tinental Show  at  Kansas  City.  An  unofficial  Standard  for 
this  variety  was  put  in  print  in  1896;  and  in  the  same  year  our 
earliest  efforts  for  their  admission  to  the  Standard  were  baffled 
by  opposition  that  developed  in  the  East,  a  controversy  hav- 
ing arisen  over  the  choice  of  a  name,  Mr.  Brackenbury  being 
desirous  that  the  needs  of  his  new  production  with  similar 
markings  be  considered  and  that  the  names  Golden  and  Silver 
Penciled  should  be  adopted.  Our  choice  of  name  finally  pre- 
vailed and  as  Partridge  Wyandottes  they  were  admitted  to 
the  Standard  in  1901." 

Admitted  to  the  Standard  in  1901. — Considerable  rivalry 
sprang  up  between  Eastern  and  Western  breeders,  with  the  re- 
sult that  claims  of  superiority  of  one  strain  over  the  other  were 
freely  and  frequently  made  in  the  poultry  press,  and  a  warm 
and  lengthy  discussion  over  the  merits  of  the  rival  strains  fol- 
lowed. Eastern  breeders  insisted  on  the  new  variety  being 
called  Golden  Penciled  Wyandottes,  while  Western  breeders 
firmly  demanded  that  they  be  named  Partridge  Wyandottes. 
This  controversy  was  settled  at  Chicago  in  1901.  when  the  new 
variety  was  admitted  to  the  American  Standard  of  Perfection^ 
as  Partridge  Wyandottes.  but  for  several  years  afterward 
leading  Eastern  breders  persisted  in  calling  the  latter  Golden 
Penciled  Wyandottes.  In  the  opinion  of  some  expert  judges, 
the  Eastern  bred  Partridge  Wyandottes  were  more  loose 
feathered,  approaching  the  Cochin  type  more  cosely  than 
those  bred  in  the  West,  but  the  former  were  more  sharply  and 
regularly  penciled  in  the  feathers  of  the  backs  of  females  than 
the  latter.— (J.  H.  D.) 


232  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


CHAPTER  II. 

STANDARD  REQUIREMENTS  FOR  COLOR  OF 
PARTRIDGE  WYANDOTTES. 

Disqualifications. 

Positive  white  in  main  tail  feathers,  sickles  or  secondaries ; 
shanks  other  than  yellow  or  dusky  yellow.  (See  general 
and  Wyandotte  disqualifications.) 

COLOR  OF  MALE. 

Head. — Plumage,  bright-red. 

Beak. — Dark  horn,  shading  to  yellow  at  point. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 

Neck. — Hackle,  web  of  feather,  solid,  lustrous  greenish-black 
with  a  narrow  edging  of  rich,  brilliant  red,  uniform  in  width, 
extending  around  point  of  feather;  shaft,  black;  plumage 
in  front  of  hackle,  black. 

Wings. — Fronts,  black;  bows,  rich,  brilliant  red;  coverts,  lus- 
trous greenish-black,  forming  a  well  defined  bar  of  this 
color  across  wings  when  folded ;  primaries,  black,  lower 
edges,  reddish-bay;  secondaries,  black,  outside  webs,  red- 
dish-bay, terminating  with  greenish-black  at  end  of  each 
feather. 

Back  and  Saddle.^Rich,  brilliant  red,  with  lustrous  grccnish- 
Ijlack  stripe  down  middle  of  each  feather,  same  as  in  hackle. 

Tail.^ — Black,  sickles  and  smaller  sickles,  lustrous  greenish- 
black  ;  coverts,  lustrous  greenish-black  edged  with  rich, 
brilliant  red. 

Breast. —  Lustrous  black. 

Body  and  Fluff. — Body,  black;  fluff,  black  slightly  tinged  with 
red. 

Legs  and  Toes. — Thighs,  black ;  shanks  and  toes,  yellow. 

Under-Color  of  All  Sections. — Slate, 

COLOR  OF  FEMALE. 
Beak. — Dark  horn,  shading  to  yellow  at  point. 
Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 
Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  233 

Head. — Plumage,  mahogany  brown. 

Neck. — Reddish-bay,  center  portion  of  feathers,  black  slightly 
penciled  with  mahogany  brown  ;  feathers  in  front  of  neck 
same  as  breast. 

Wings. — Shoulders,  bows  and  coverts,  mahogany  brown, 
penciled  with  black,  outlines  of  pencilings  conforming  to 
shape  of  feathers ;  primaries,  black,  with  edging  of  ma- 
hogany brown  on  outer  webs ;  secondaries,  inner  webs 
black,  outer  webs  mahogany  brown  penciled  with  black, 
pencilings  conforming  to  shape  of  feathers. 

Back.— Mahogany  brown,  distinctly  penciled  with  black,  the 
outlines  of  pencilings  conforming  to  shape  of  feathers. 

Tail.— Black,  the  two  top  feathers  black  penciled  with  mahog- 
any brown  on  upper  edge ;  coverts,  mahogany  brown,  pen- 
ciled with  black. 

Breast. — Mahogany  brown,  distinctly  penciled  with  black,  the 
outlines  of  pencilings  conforming  to  shape  of  feathers. 

Body  and  Fluff. — Body,  mahogany  brown,  penciled  with  black ; 
flluft',  mahogany  brown. 

Shanks  and  Toes. — Yellow  or  dusky  yellow. 

Under-Color  of  All  Sections. — Slate. 

Note. — Each  feather  in  back,  breast,  body,  wing-bows  and 
thighs  to  have  three  or  more  distinct  pencilings. 


PLATE  81. 


PARTRIDGE  WYANDOTTK  MALE 


PLATE  82. 


PARTRIDGE  WYANDOTTE  FEMALE 

235 


236 


AMEIilCAX   POULTRY  Ai^^OCIATION 


CHAPTER  III. 


SINGLE  AND  DOUBLE  MATINGS. 

TI  i  IC  widely  (livcrg-cnt  shades  found  on  tlie  male  and  fe- 
male of  tills  variety,  to  which  attention  has  already  been 
called,  together  with  the  complicated  and  intricate  sys- 
tem of  markings  of  the  female  plumage  make  the  Partridge 
Wyandotte  one  oi  the  most  difticult  varieties  in  the  Standard 
to  breed  to  an  approximate  degree  of  perfection.     Therefore, 

PLATE  83. 


I'AI^I  IxllM.I,   W  ^  AM 


MALI:    llAi  KLE. 


1 — Idealized.      2 — Best    natural.      3 — Uefcctivc    under-color.      4 — Too 
light.    5 — Too  dark. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 

PLATE  84. 


237 


PARTRIDGE  WYANDOTTE  HACKLE  FEATHERS. 

(From   different   individuals.) 

1 — Weak  Stripe.  2 — Too  dark,  black  running  into  lacing.  3 — Fairly 
good.    4 — Idealized. 

experience  and  skill  in  selecting-  and  mating  on  the  part  of  the 
breeder  are  assets  of  considerable  value. 

Double  Matings. — The  Partridge  variety  of  any  and  all 
breeds  furnishes  one  of  the  most  pronounced  examples  of  the 
necessity  of  double-mating,  according  to  the  principle  of  mat- 
ing as  related  in  Part  Two;  that  a  special  mating  for  each 
sex  is  necessary  when  the  sexes  have  different  color  patterns. 
In  neither  color  nor  in  markings  are  the  Partridge  sexes 
alike.  If  one  is  not  familiar  with  the  Partridge  markings,  it 
is  inconceivable  that  males  with  solid  colored  feathers  in 
breast,  shoulders,  wing  and  tail  coverts,  will  breed  females, 


238  AMKJ;ICA\   Vol  LTUY   AUSOCIATIOX 

the  feathers  of  which  sections  are  of  two  widely  contrasting 
colors,  and  furthermore  diverge  so  widely  from  solid  colored 
web  as  to  show  tlirt-c  distinct  crescentic  pencilings.  Yet,  a 
knowledge  of  the  difference  in  color  and  color  patterns  of 
male  and  female  in  rartridgc  varieties  was  handed  down  to 
us  with  iiur   first  information  ahout  Asiatic   fowls. 

Single  Matings. —  Many  of  the  breeders  today  practice  or 
claim  to  practice  single  mating.  The  requirements  of  the  lat- 
est (1915)  Standard  are  much  more  favorable  to  this  method, 

PL.M'K  85. 


I'ARTRIDGK  WV.\XIX)TTH  .M.M.I-:  WIXC  I'KI.M.VKV   .\.\U  SIX  O.ND.VRV. 

The  above  represent  the  best  natural  color  markings  found  on  the  feathers  of 
the  best  prize  males.  Tiic  natural  tendency  of  this  breed  is  to  show  primaries  and 
secondaries  that  lack  sufficient  red  markings.  On  some  of  the  males  having  the  be  it 
surface  color  these  vvinfj  feathers  have  but  a  slight  red  edging.  These  feathers  are 
from  a  male  of  a  leading  single  mating  strain.     The  top  feather  is  the  primary. 


than  were  the  Standards  hrtOrr.  I<"irst.  because  penciled  necks 
are  permitted  on  the  females.  It  has  always  been  difficult  to 
breed  penciling  in  all  soft  and  semi-soft  feathers,  except  those 
of  the  neck  and  exclude  it  from  those.  By  accepting  necks  that 
are  slightly  penciled,  we  receive  more  and  better  penciling  in 
all  other  sections.  Second,  because  the  males  that  are  the  sons 
of  the  best  penciled  females  have  also  been  jirone  to  show, 
brown  edging  in  the  fluff.  Thus,  we  have  a  beginning  toward 
the  acceptance  of  the  sons  of  the  best  penciled  females  as  the 
ideal  male.  But  this  son  of  the  female  goes  further  and  has 
more  or  less  ])rown  in  the  rear-body  feathers,  and  sometimes 
breast,   and   the   striping  in    hackle   and   saddle   is  sometimes 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK 


239 


broken  and  weak,  failing  in  continuity  and  lacking  in  strength, 
intensity  and  lustre.  Often,  only  at  the  end  and  then  for  no 
greater  extent  than  an  inch  or  less  does  a  real  stripe  appear. 
So  that,  if  we  adhere  to  the  ideals  of  old  (or  to  present  ideals) 
in  males,  there  is  still  advantages  to  be  gained  by  the  double 


PLATE 


PARTRIDGE    WYANDOTTE    SADDLE    FEATHERS    OF  MALES. 

(From  different  individuals.) 

1 — Weak  Stripe.     2 — Too  dark,  lilack  running   into  lacing.  3 — Fairly 
good.     4 — Idealized. 


mating  system,  because  we  can  more  easily  conform  to  Stand- 
ard requirements  in  these  sections,  that  is,  we  can  more  easily 
obtain  solid  black  breasts,  rear  body  sections,  as  well  as 
stronger  or  more  metallic  striping  in  male  saddle. 

The  Popularity  of  Single  Mating. — Some  breeders  object  to 
double  matings  ]:)ecause  amateurs  cannot  understand  them  and 
small  breeders  have  no  room  for  them.    This  causes  the  novice 


240 


AMJJIUCAy    roLLTUY   ASSOCIATION 


PLATE 


PARTRIDC;]-:  WYANDOTTE  MALI-.  BACK,  SADDLE  AND 
BREAST. 

1— Best  natural,  back.  2— Best  natural,  top  saddle.  3— Best  natural, 
saddle  hanger.  4 — Best  natural,  saddle  at  base  of  tail.  5— Best  natural, 
wing-bow.    6 — Defective  saddle.     7 — Defective  breast,  red  on  outer  edge. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


241 


to  look  for  simpler  problems,  or,  in  other  words,  to  take  up  the 
breeding  of  some  variety  regarded  as  less  difificult.  The  idea  is 
prevalent  that  double  mating  is  a  disadvantage  to  any  variety. 
Single  mating  is  then  practiced  to  create  or  maintain  popu- 
larity rather  than  to  produce  superior  specimens.  As  a  com- 
mercial expediency,  it  may  be  wisdom  to  develop  Partridge 
Wyandottes  along  single  mating  lines.  That  will  manifestly 
depend  upon  the  sentiment  of  the  times.  This  much  is  granted, 
that  as  long  as  breeders  will  adhere  to  the  practice  of  single 
matings,  they  will  meet  in  the  show-room  upon  even  ground, 
because  all  their  specimens  will  be  produced  by  single  mating. 
There  can  be  no  complaint  of  unfair  advantages.  In  breeding 
much  attention  must  be  paid  to  the  penciling  and  color  of  the 
females.  Should  the  development  of  these  female  characters 
produce  a  male  line  that  was  not  of  sufficient  exhibition  merit 
to  be  satisfactory,  to  the  breeder,  it  is  obvious  that  females 
with  stronger  striping  and  with  less  penciling  in  the  hackle 
must  be  selected  to  produce  males  of  greater  exhibition  merit. 
The  Ideal  Mating. — The  mating  sought  at  the  present  time 
is  one  that  will  produce  both  exhil)ition  males  and  females  of 

PLATE  88 


PARTRIDGE  WYANDOTTE  FEMALE  HACKLE. 

1 — Idealized.  2 — Base  of  hackle.  3 — Center.  4 — Top.  5 — Defective. 
6 — Defective.     7 — Defective. 

Nos.  2,  3  and  4  represent  best  natural  feathers  as  they  are  found  at 
the  present  time.  5  shovirs  irregular  penciling.  6  represents  defective 
hackle  feathers  of  pullets,  which  often  correct  the  defects  in  the  second 
molt.  7  has  too  much  black  in  center,  but  is  sometimes  found  on  cockerel 
breeders. 


242 


AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


sufficient  quality  to  win.  Such  a  mating  usually  consists  of  a 
male  of  rich  red,  though  not  dark  enough  or  deep  enough  to 
obscure  the  black  striped  in  neck  and  saddle,  as  even  in  the 
red  shade  of  neck,  shoulders,  back  and  saddle  as  possible,  with 
some  red  in  fluff  feathers,  and  possibly  a  little  in  body  and 
lower  breast  feathers  may  be  tolerated  in  many  matings  and 
even  sought  in  a  few.  Such  a  male  is  now  considered  fairly 
good  exhibition  color,  notwithstanding  the  minor  discrepancies 
when  compared  with  the  Standard  description.  It  will  be 
noticed  that  the  fluff  or  soft  feathers  back  of  and  between  the 
thighs  may  be  "tinged  with  red".  Generally,  the  red  extends 
beyond  these  limits  and  is  found  in  the  body  feathers.  This  is 
tolerated  by  most  judges,  though  not  permitted  in  the  words  of 
the  Standard  as  interpreted,  literally,  because  penciling  is 
both  desired  and  required  in  this  section  of  the  female  plum- 

PLATE  89. 


PARTRIDGE    WYANDOTTE    EEMALE    PRL\lARli-..s    AXD 
SECONDARY. 


Hens  two  or  more  years  old,  if  well  penciled  in  other  sections,  usually 
show  primaries  peppered  on  the  inner  web  like  No.  1.  Pullets  from  a 
single  mating  strain  usually  have  well  marked  primaries  like  No.  2,  but 
when  they  become  hens  and  their  penciling  improves  the  primaries  become 
peppered.    No.  3  is  a  secondary. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


243 


PLATE  90. 


PARTRIDGE  WYANDOTTES,  DIFFERENT  PATTERNS  OF 
PENCILING  ON  WING  SECONDARIES  OF  FEMALES. 

1 — On  lower  (left  hand)  edge,  nearly  parallel,  then  turning  irregularly 
outward  to  edge,  on  upper  side  breaks  up  into  irregular  cross  penciling, 
which  should  be  nearly  solid  black  except  near  end  of  the  smaller  upper 
secondaries.  2 — Is  barred  instead  of  penciled  parallel  to  edge.  3 — Pen- 
ciling runs  parallel  to  edge  nearly  all  through  lower  (left  hand)  web. 
Approaches  ideal  marking. 


244 


AMEHIVA\   POULTRY   AiiHOVlA'HON 


age  and  it  is  conceded  that  females  with  penciHngs  which  ex- 
tend well  to  the  rear  of  the  body  produce  males  with  red  in 
this  section.  In  a  general  way,  it  may  be  stated  that  the  sires 
and  brothers  of  the  most  perfectly  and  consistently  penciled 
females  show  considerable  red  in  these  sections  that  corre- 
spond to  the  penciled  sections  of  the  females,  breast  and  wing 
coverts  possibly  excepted  ;  though  the  better  the  penciling  of 
these  female  sections,  the  more  apt  are  the  corresponding  sec- 
tions on  the  sires  and  l)rothers  to  show  red  or  brown. 


PLATE  91. 


l'ARTRin(.l-:   \\A  A.XDOl'll-:   I'Ul.LKT   SKCO.XDARIKS. 

As  a  rule  i)ullets  show  jicuciliiigs  on  \vinj>  socoiidaries  that  run  across 
the  feather  instead  of  lentithvvise  or  couforininu;  to  the  edjie  of  the  feather. 
The  ahove  feathers  were  taken  from  the  winj.;  of  one  pullet. 


The  female  desired  tu  mate  to  such  a  male  is  the  one  that 
conforms  most  closely  to  the  Standard  of  perfection  in  color 
and  markings,  and  shape,  also,  of  course,  but  this  feature  is 
treated  under  that  head,  and  one  treatise  does  for  all  varieties 
of  Wyandottes. 

The  Standard  Partridge  Wyandotte  female  should  present 
a  rich,  glossy  appearance.  In  color  she  should  be  neither  too 
light  nor  too  dark. 

The  penciling  in  sucli  penciled  section  should  follow  the 
general  profile  of  the  feathers  and  consist  of  three  or  more 
distinct  pencilings. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK 


245 


PLATE  92. 


PARTRIDGE  WYANDOTTE  ADULT  FEMALE  TAIL. 

Nos.  3  and  4  represent  two  top  main  tail  feathers  of  a  Partridge 
Wyandotte  hen.  Nos.  1  and  2  are  the  two  tail  feathers  immediately 
beneath.  These  feathers  illustrate  the  development  of  penciling  on 
matured  hens  which  are  exceedingly  well  penciled  in  other  sections.  While 
the  Standard  requires  all  tail  feathers  except  the  two  top  ones  to  be  black, 
all  well  penciled  hens  show  more  or  less  markings  in  main  tail  feathers  as 
shown  in  1  and  2.  Pullets  as  a  rule  have  black  main  tail  feathers,  but 
these  feathers  become  more  or  less  penciled  as  they  become  hens  and 
their  penciling  in  other  sections  improves. 


248 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


The  head  should  be  a  mahogany  brown;  the  neck  feathers 
bright  red,  closely  matching  the  shade  of  color  desired  on  the 
neck  of  the  male ;  wing  bows,  back,  breast,  tail  coverts,  body, 
fluff  and  thighs  a  rich,  mahogany-brown,  penciled  with  black; 
the  wing  primaries  black,  with  an  edging  of  mahogany-brown 
on  the  outer  web;  the  inner  web  of  the  secondaries,  black;  the 
outer  web,  mahogany-brown  penciled  with  black. 

The  main  tail  feathers  black,  except  that  the  two  top  feath- 
ers should  be  mahogany-brown  on  upper  edge. 

Beak,  eyes,  comb,  face,  wattles,  ear-lobes,  shanks  and  toes 
should  be  the  same  color  as  that  required  for  the  male. 

Different  interpretations  will,  as  naturally,  be  placed  upon 
such  color  terms  as  reddish-bay  and  mahogany-brown,  but  on 
the  whole,  breeders,  exhibitors  and  judges  agree  very  well 
as  to  the  correct  and  incorrect  shades.  Lighter  shades  of 
mahogany-brown  are,  of  course,  preferred  if  the  male  is  in- 
clined to  be  too  dark  and  darker  and  richer  shades  if  the 
male  of  the  mating  is  rather  too  light  or  bright.  Females  that 
have  the  required  number  of  distinct  pencilings  which  con- 
form  closely  to  this  outline   of  the   feather   and   which   are 


PLATE  95. 


PARTRIDGE  WYANDOTTE  FEMALE  BREAST. 

1 — Breast  near  throat.  2 — Front  of  breast.  3 — Lower  breast. 
A — Breast  where  the  feathers  overlap  those  of  body.  These  are  best  natu- 
ral feathers  from  winning  specimens.  Nos.  5,  6  and  7  show  different 
defective  breast  feathers. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


249 


PLATE  96. 


I  t 


ENGLISH  PARTRIDGE  WYANDOTTE  FEMALE  FEATHERS. 

1 — Cushion.  2 — Back  at  base  of  hackle.  3 — Hackle.  4 — Breast. 
5— Shoulder. 

English  Partridge  Wyandottes  (females)  are  much  lighter  in  ground 
color  than  our  Standard  requires.  The  penciling  is  finer  and  narrower 
and  there  are  more  lines  of  penciling  to  each  feather. 


carried  out  in  detail  in  all  sections,  particularly  in  body  and 
thighs,  in  which  penciling  is  usually  the  weakest  are  as  much 
highly  prized  for  breeding  as  for  exhibition  purposes,  and  even 
more  so,  though  they  may  be  one  or  two  shades  removed 
from  the  shade  of  mahogany-brown  most  acceptable  as  ideal, 
will  be  selected  for  the  best  matings. 

The  conclusion  will  be  rightly  drawn  that  such  matings 
will  produce  splendid  females,  but  there  must  exist  a  tendency 
toward  weak  hackle  and  saddle  striping,  which  may  become 
so  much  in  evidence  that  the  high  quality  of  the  males  is  very 
seriously  impaired. 

In  that  case,  and  if  one  is  determined  to  breed  males  of  the 
highest  exhibiton  merit,  special  matings  for  that  purpose  must 
be  employed. 

Of  the  male  for  this  mating  little  or  nothing  need  be  added 
to  the  description  in  the  Standard  of  Perfection  and  the  expla- 
nation already  offered  herein.    It  is  merely  necessary  to  repeat 


250 


AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


the  old  rule  so  often  repeated,  to  use  the  best  male  available, 
that  is,  the  one  that  most  nearly  conforms  to  the  Standard  re- 
quirements, other  qualities,  particular  lines  of  breeding  and 
length  of  the  breeding  lines,  being  on  par. 

The  females  selected  would,  of  course,  as  far  as  the  color 
is  considered,  be  of  those  which  had  particularly  rich,  red 
color  and  strength  of  black  striping  in  the  neck.  In  making 
selections  for  richness  of  color,  do  not  overlook  the  short, 
small  feathers  under  the  throat.  A  rich  color  of  medium  to 
rather  rich  shade  is  very  desirable  for  females  that  are  to  be 
used  for  breeding  exhibition  males  exclusively.     (A.  C.  S.) 


PLATE  97. 


DEVELOPMENT  OF  PARTRIDGE  WYANDOTTES. 

1st   cock   Boston,    about    1900,   and    1st  hen   Boston,    1908.      See  also 
Plate  98. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  251 

PLATE  98. 


Development  of  Partridge  Wyandottes.  Above,  1st  cockerel  Madison  Square 
Garden,  N.  Y.,  1913,  and  1st  hen  Chicago,  1915.  Below,  1st  cockerel  Madison 
Square  Garden,  N.  Y.,  1918,  and  1st  pullet  Madison  Square  Garden,  N.  Y.,  1918. 
See  also  Plate  97. 


252  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


SECTION     VI. 

CHAPTER  I. 
SILVER   PENCILED   WYANDOTTES. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  ORIGIN  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 

THE  Silver  Penciled  variety  of  the  Wyandotte  family 
originated  in  New^  York  State  in  1894,  George  H.  Brack- 
enbury,  of  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  being  accredited  the  origi- 
nator, but  due  credit  must  be  given  to  the  late  Ezra  Cornell  for 
his  valuable  aid  in  perfecting  this  new  variety.  Mr.  Bracken- 
bury's  first  cross  was  a  Partridge  Wyandotte  male  bred  to 
Dark  Brahma  females,  the  progeny  of  this  mating  being  com- 
posed of  females  with  the  Silver  or  Dark  Brahma  color  mark- 
ings, with  the  male  showing  more  of  the  Golden  Duckwing 
color,  especially  in  the  red  found  on  the  wing  feathers. 

Mr.  Cornell  used  a  Silver  Laced  Wyandotte  male  with 
Silver  Penciled  Hamburg  females.  The  two  strains  were  bred 
together  the  following  year  with  excellent  results,  as  Mr. 
Cornell's  statement  that  "in  1897  we  had  better  penciling  on 
Silver  Penciled  Wyandotte  females  than  I  had  ever  seen  up  to 
that  time  on  Partridge  Wyandottes",  will  prove. 

The  following  history  of  the  origin  of  the  Silver  Penciled 
Wyandotte  by  George  H.  Brackenbury,  printed  in  the  Ameri- 
can Fancier,  September  21,  1895,  can  be  accepted  as  authentic: 

"This  extremely  rare  and  handsome  variety  of  the  Wyan- 
dotte family  has  not  as  yet  been  introduced,  although  men- 
tioned by  Mr.  McKeen  a  great  many  times  in  connection  with 
his  Golden  Penciled  Wyandotte  articles,  one  of  which  reads: 
'Mr.  Brackenbury  is  also  making  some  experiments,  which  he 
thinks  will  be  a  success,  to  produce  a  Silver  counterpart  or 
Silver  Penciled  Wyandotte.'  Also  similar  mention  in  numer- 
ous circulars  sent  out  by  Messrs.  McKeen  and  Thiem.  They 
are  as  yet  confined  to  a  limited  number  of  clean  legged,  rose 
combed  cockerels,  a  few  strongly  penciled,  clean  legged,  rose 
combed  hens  and  the  same  of  pullets,  from  one  of  which  the 
enclosed  feathers  were  taken.     No  doubt  the  public  who  have 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  253 

read  Mr.  McKeen's  articles  will  infer  from  similar  worded 
articles  and  circulars  written  and  sent  out  two  or  three  years 
hence  that  Mr.  B.  is  still  'making  some  experiments,  etc./  and 
probably  is  imagining  that  my  experiments  were  all  recently 
made,  by  which  1  mean  made  the  past  Spring.  This  is  a  mistake, 
if  true,  for  which  possibly  I  alone  am  to  blame  in  not  giving 
him  (McKeen)  more  definite  information  regarding  the  'Silver 
Penciled  counterpart'.  It  may  not  have  occurred  to  Mr.  Mc- 
Keen that  possibly  my  experimenting  for  a  Silver  counterpart 
would  date  as  far  back  as  the  length  of  time  in  which  he  has 
been  experimenting  with  the  Golden  Penciled  variety.  It  may 
interest  the  poultry  loving  public  to  know  that  Ezra  Cornell  of 
Ithaca,  N.  Y.,  is  a  Wyandotte  man,  also  an  'experimenter'. 
Mr.  Cornell  wished  to  assist  me  in  producing  and  perfecting 
the  Silver  Penciled  Wyandotte,  which  he  is  now  doing.  Mr. 
Cornell  and  myself  must  claim  the  honor  of  being  the  first 
to  produce  a  fowl  of  the  Wyandotte  type  r.nd  penciling  in 
])lumage  like  that  seen  in  good  specimens  of  the  Dark  Brahma. 
Inasmuch  as  the  writer  was  the  first  to  mention  the  fact  that 
such  a  variety  was  being  produced  and  this  article  of  introduc- 
tion being  the  first  to  appear  in  any  publication,  the  honor  of 
introducing  the  Silver  Penciled  Wyandotte  must  certainly  be 
ours.  To  Mr.  Cornell  and  the  writer  belong  the  credit  of  being 
the  first  to  begin  experimenting  and  first  to  produce  a  fowl  of 
this  type  and  color.  We  do  not  wish  the  public  to  imagine  that 
this  variety  is  already  perfected,  nor  do  we  wish  to  be  be- 
sieged with  inquiries  by  would-be  purchasers  as  none  of  these 
fowls  or  eggs  will  be  oflr'ered  for  sale  for  some  time  to  come. 
We  are  producing  two  entirely  distinct  strains  not  related,  each 
originating  his  own  strain,  the  make-up  of  each  strain  being 
the  same  only  where  one  has  used  a  male  or  female,  as  the  case 
may  be  (of  the  breeds  that  form  a  part  of  their  make-up)  the 
other  has  used  the  opposite  sex.  I  have  not  used  one  drop  of 
mongrel  blood,  but  found  it  necessary  to  use  the  blood  of  three 
different  breeds  of  fowls,  all  well  known  and  popular  breeds. 
The  only  difference  that  exists  between  the  Golden  and  Silver 
Penciled  Wyandottes  will  be  in  ground  color,  both  having 
strong,  distinct  penciling.  There  is  no  doubt  but  that  they  will 
be  greatly  admired,  especially  by  their  introducers." 

Mr.  Cornell,  in  calling  attention  to  the  excellent  combina- 
tion of  qualities  possessed  by  the  Silver  Penciled  Wyandottes 
even  at  that  early  period  of  their  existence,  realized  that  the 
Standard  must  be  made  to  fit  the  variety,  if  the  latter  was  to 
become  one  of  the  most  beautiful  and  popular  varieties  of  the 


254  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Wyandotte  family,  for  as  he  expressed  it,  "we  must  know  to  a 
certainty  the  plumage  of  the  male,  which  corresponds  to  that 
of  the  female.  Do  not  demand  a  clean  black  fluff  on  the  male 
or  a  well  pencilled  fluff  on  the  female,  or  yellow  legs.  Develgp 
the  plumage  to  its  greatest  perfection  from  single  matings  and 
let  the  shanks  come  whatever  color  they  will.  Then  make  the 
Standard  to  fit  the  birds  and  we  will  have  a  variety  to  bank 
on."    (The  Wyandottes,  R.  P.  J.  Publishing  Co.) 

Mr.  Cornell,  from  the  time  of  its  origin  in  1894  until  his 
death  in  1902,  made  a  thorough  study  of  the  mating  and  breed- 
ing of  the  Silver  Penciled  Wyandotte,  succeeding  in  develop- 
ing it  to  high  degree  in  type  and  color.  E.  G.  Wyckoff  se- 
cured the  entire  stock  after  Mr.  Cornell's  death,  and  rapidly 
pushed  the  variety  to  the  front  by  consistent  advertising  and 
exhibiting  in  the  United  States  and  Canada,  as  well  as  in  Eng- 
land. Stock  was  sent  to  the  latter  country  at  a  very  early  date 
and  Silver  Penciled  Wyandottes  became  popular  at  once.  Mr. 
Wyckoff  also  sent  a  shipment  of  sixty  Silver  Penciled  Wyan- 
dottes to  Australia  in  1903  to  take  part  in  an  International 
laying  contest  held  there,  all  arriving  in  excellent  condition. 

Admitted  to  the  Standard  in  1895. — Ezra  Cornell's  fore- 
cast as  to  what  the  color  Standard  for  Silver  Penciled  Wyan- 
dottes should  be  in  order  to  preserve  the  variety  as  a  useful 
all-round  fowl,  which  could  be  bred  from  single  matings,  met 
with  the  approval  of  many  of  the  older  breeders  of  the  va- 
riety, if  not  with  the  Standard  makers,  at  least  in  some  par- 
ticulars. Silver  Penciled  Wyandottes  were  admitted  to  the 
Standard  of  Perfection  in  1905.  This  first  Standard  for  the 
new  variety  did  not  prove  entirely  satisfactory  in  the  de- 
scriptive matter,  but  the  illustrations  of  ideal  male  and  fe- 
male were  approved  of,  excepting  the  solid  black  striping  in 
the  hackle  of  the  female.  The  color  of  legs  in  female,  being 
described  as  yellow,  was  objected  to  by  breeders  who  advo- 
cated single  matings.  The  1910  Standard  was  an  improvement 
over  the  1905  issue,  except  in  the  illustrations,  which  did  not 
meet  with  the  approval  of  Wyandotte  breeders  as  a  rule,  as 
they  lacked  the  graceful  curved  lines  characteristic  of  the 
Wyandotte.  More  latitude  was  given  to  color  of  legs,  which 
could  be  yellow  or  dusky  yellow  in  either  male  or  female,  but 
the  solid  black  striping  in  the  female  still  remained.  To  the 
color  description  of  the  female  was  added :  "Each  feather  in 
back,  breast,  body  and  wingbows  to  have  two  or  more  distinct 
pencilings." 

Before  the  present  Standard    (1915   edition)  was  revised, 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  255 

considerable  discussion  by  breeders  of  Silver  Penciled  Wyan- 
dottes  over  the  proper  color  markings  of  the  female  took  place, 
Rev.  T.  W.  Harwood,  Pembroke,  N.  H.,  writing  us  on  January 
21,  1911,  as  follows:  "Discussion  at  the  Club  meeting  devel- 
oped a  curiosity  to  know  who  are  responsible  for  the  change 
in  the  new  Standard  (1910).  Two  years  ago  the  Club  voted 
to  request  the  Revision  Committee  that  the  Standard  for 
Silver  Penciled  Wyandottes  remain.  Have  the  New  York 
breeders  effected  these  changes?  Mr.  Wason  of  Grand  Rapids, 
Michigan,  sent  me  the  first  information  that  the  new  Stand- 
ard is  to  require  solid  black  stripe  in  hackle  of  female  and 
he  commented  adversely  on  the  change.  Pretty  nearly  all  of 
the  best  Silver  Penciled  Wyandotte  females  exhibited  at  Bos- 
ton had  penciling  in  hackle.  A  pullet  of  mine  took  first  and  I 
was  at  loss  to  know  why  until  I  heard  the  judge  remark  'She 
has  a  cracking  good  hackle'.  I  had  never  looked  at  her  hackle. 
Personally  I  preferred  a  pullet  of  Mr.  Robinson's  with  splen- 
didly bold  penciling,  clear  out  to  tail  and  running  up  into 
hackle.  The  judge,  a  Columbian  Wyandotte  man,  no  doubt 
dreams  black  hackles  and  tails  but  a  real  Silver  Penciled  man 
dreams  penciling.  There  was  no  great  opposition  to  permit- 
ting the  two-line  penciling.  Some  of  us  favor  it  as  making  it 
easier  to  get  strong  bold  penciling,  also  it  helps  the  single 
mating  idea.  Mr.  Rogers  advocated  a  bold  penciling  but  was 
for  producing  it  with  as  many  as  four  lines,  the  three  out- 
side ones  being  wide  and  definite.  It  was  news  to  him  that 
a  two-lined  penciled  feather  is  to  become  Standard.  All  but 
Mr.  Hathaway,  who  specializes  in  males,  favored  breast  tick- 
ing and  light  undercolor  in  males.  That  is  the  best  thing 
that  could  happen  for  those  of  us  who  are  trying  to  produce 
males  and  females  from  one  mating.  Mr.  Baker  and  I  exhibit- 
ed males  and  females  produced  from  one  mating." 

A  complete  revision  of  the  text  and  illustrations  of  the  1910 
Standard  resulted  in  the  present  1915  Standard.  In  Silver 
Penciled  Wyandotte  females  the  important  changes  made 
were  in  the  neck  description,  which  now  reads  :  "Center  portion 
of  feathers,  black  slightly  penciled  with  gray ;  feathers  in 
front  of  neck  same  as  breast,"  and,  in  the  note,  "Each  feather 
in  back,  breast,  body,  wingbow  and  thighs  to  have  three  or 
more  distinct  pencilings." 

This  is  the  Standard  of  today  and  one  which  conforms 
closely  to  the  color  ideals  of  the  breeders  of  Silver  Penciled 
Wyandotte  females.     (J.  H.  D.) 


256  AMERICAN   POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


CHAPTER  II. 


STANDARD  REQUIREMENTS  FOR  COLOR  OF 
SILVER  PENCILED  WYANDOTTES. 

Disqualifications. 

Shanks  and  toes,  other  than  yellow  or  dusky  yellow.      (See 
general  and  Wyandotte  disqualifications.) 

COLOR  OF  MALE. 
Head. — Plumage,  silvery  white. 
Beak. — Yellow  or  dusky  yellow. 
Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 
Neck. — Hackle,  wel)  of  feather,  solid,  lustrous  greenish-black 

with  a  narrow  edging  of  silvery  white,  uniform  in  width, 

extending  around  point  of  feather ;  shafts,  black ;  plumage 

in  front  of  hackle,  black. 
Wings. — Bows,     silvery     white ;     coverts,    lustrous    greenish- 

l)lack ;  primaries,  black,  except  a  narrow  edging  of  white 

on  lower  edge  of  lower  webs ;  secondaries,  black,  except 

lower  half  of  lower  webs  which  should  be  white,   except 

near  end  of  feathers  at  which  points  the  white  terminates 

abruptly,  leaving  end  of  feathers  black. 
Back. — Silvery  white,  free  from  brown ;  saddle,  silvery  white 

with  a  black" stripe  in  each  feather,  tapering  to  a  point  near 

its  lower  extremity. 
Tail. — Black;    sickles    and    coverts,    lustrous    greenish-black; 

smaller  coverts,  lustrous  greenish-black,  edged  with  white. 
Breast.— Black. 
Body  and  Fluff.— Body,  black ;  fluff,  black  slightly  tinged  with 

gray. 
Legs  and  Toes. — Thighs,  black ;  shanks  and  toes,  yellow  or 

dusky  yellow. 
Under-Color  of  All  Sections. — Slate. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  257 

COLOR  OF  FEMALE. 
Head. — Plumage,  silvery  gray. 
Beak. — Yellow  or  dusky  yellow. 
Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 
Neck. — Silvery  white,  center  portion  of  feathers,  black  slightly 

penciled   with   gray ;    feathers   in    front   of   neck   same   as 

breast. 
Wings. — Shoulders,  bows  and  coverts,  gray  with  distinct  dark 

pencilings,  outlines  of  which  conform  to  shape  of  feathers ; 

primaries,  black  with  a  narrow  edge  of  gray  penciling  on 

lower  webs ;  secondaries,  upper  webs,  black,  lower  webs, 

gray,  with  distinct  dark  pencilings  extending  around  outer 

end  of  feathers. 
Back. — Gray  with  distinct  dark  pencilings,  outlines  of  which 

conform   to   shape  of   feathers ;   feathers   free   from   white 

shafting. 
Tail.- — Black,  except  the  two  top  feathers,  which  are  penciled 

on  upper  edge ;  coverts,  gray  with  distinct  dark  pencilings, 

outlines  of  which  conform  to  shape  of  feathers. 
Breast. — Gray  with  distinct  dark  pencilings,  outlines  of  which 

conform  to  shape  of  feathers. 
Body  and  Fluff. — Gray  with  distinct  dark  pencilings,  reaching 

well  down  on  thighs ;  fluff,  gray,  penciled  with  a  darker 

shade. 
Legs    and    Toes. — Thighs,     gray    with     distinct     pencilings; 

shanks  and  toes,  yellow  or  dusky  yellow. 
Under-Color  of  All  Sections.— Slate. 
Note. — Each   feather   in   back,   breast,   body,   wing-bows   and 

thighs  to  have  three  or  more  distinct  pencilings. 

ILLUSTRATIONS   OF  SILVER  PENCILED  WYANDOTTES. 

For  Standard  illustrations  of  this  variety,  male  and  female,  see  pages 
12  and  13. 


258  AMERICAN  POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

CHAPTER  III. 
THE  MATING  PROBLEMS. 

THE  laws  governing  the  breeding  of  Silver  Penciled 
Wyandottes  to  produce  the  highest  Standard  color 
markings  in  exhibition  males  and  females  are  practi- 
cally the  same  as  those  which  govern  the  breeding  of  Partridge 
Wyandottes,  the  striping  in  saddle  and  hackle  feathers  of  the 
male  and  the  penciling  of  the  feathers  of  the  female  being  of 
similar  pattern,  the  only  difference  being  in  the  colors — read 
carefully  the  Standard  description.  Silver  Penciled  Wyan- 
dottes when  properly  selected  and  mated,  will  breed  a  large 
per  centage  of  both  males  and  females  which  will  run  true  to 
form,  or  in  other  words,  possess  the  characteristic  Wyan- 
dotte type,  for  they  have  not  been  subjected  to  out-crossing 
in  order  to  obtain  color  improvements.  So  far  as  type  or 
shape  is  concerned,  breeders  of  Silver  Penciled  Wyandottes 
will  experience  little  or  no  difficulty  in  maintaining  the  Stand- 
ard shape  of  the  breed.  Reasonable  care  must  be  exercised 
in  the  selection  of  breeding  males  and  females.  Males  should 
possess  close  fitting  body  plumage,  deep  bodies,  full  breasts, 
good  length  of  back,  strongly  arched  necks  with  abundance 
of  hackle,  broad  V-shaped  tail,  not  carried  too  high,  smooth, 
straight  shanks  of  medium  length,  capped  by  strong  well- 
rounded  hocks,  that  are  well  defined  below  the  body  line. 
With  such  a  male,  who  preferably  should  be  a  little  under 
rather  than  over  Standard  weight,  mate  strong,  large,  well 
matured    dams,    possessing    good    standard    shape. 

The  color  markings  of  the  Standard  Silver  Penciled  Wyan- 
dotte male  and  female  being  the  same  as  those  found  on  the 
Standard  Dark  Brahma  male  and  female,  the  matings  to  pro- 
duce the  highest  type  of  exhibition  cockerels  and  pullets  would 
also  be  the  same.  Dark  Brahmas  were  bred  to  a  very  high 
state  of  perfection  in  color  markings  several  years  ago  and 
to  one  of  the  most  noted  and  most  successful  breeders  of  this 
old  variety,  Newton  Adams,  we  are  indebted  for  the  follow- 
ing rules  governing  the  mating  of  breeds  or  varieties  possess- 
ing the  color  markings  of  the  Dark  Brahma : 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


259 


"Exhibition  cockerels  and  pullets  of  the  highest  quality 
cannot  be  produced  by  a  single  mating.  A  male  of  exhibi- 
tion points  mated  to  dark  females  with  well-striped  hackles, 
not  so  particular  about  penciling  in  body  plumage,  should 
produce  show  cockerels.  Exhibition  females  mated  with  a 
male  out  of  same  line  (the  line  that  produces  show  pullets)  is 
what  I  use  to  produce  show  pullets.  I  do  not  pay  much  at- 
tention to  his  under-color,  but  a  whole  lot  to  what  he  is  out 

PL.\TE  99. 


SILVER-PENCILED  WYANDOTTES. 
NECK  FEATHERS  OF  FEMALES. 


Solid,  for  producing  best  exhi 
bition  males. 


Penciled,  as  seen  on  females, 
for  producing  females  with  best 
penciled  body  sections. 

1-2 — Solid  black  stripe,  necessary  to  produce  Standard  exhibition 
colored  hackles  on  males.  3-4 — Penciled  stripe,  as  found  on  females  pos- 
sessing the  finest  penciling  over  breast,  back,  wing  and  body  sections, 
necessary  to  produce  the  best  exhibition  colored   females. 

Note : — This  section,  neck,  presents  the  most  marked  variance  in 
plumage  of  the  females  of  the  cockerel-breeding  and  pullet-l^reeding  lines. 
A  solid  black  stripe  in  hackle,  especially  in  the  lower  portion  of  the  lower 
or  longest  hackle  feathers,  is  required  and  very  much  desired  in  an 
exhibition  male.  To  obtain  such,  it  is  generally  necessary  to  breed  from 
females  that  possess  the  same  character. —  (Ed.) 


260  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIA-TION 

of.  I  must  know  that  his  dam  and  his  sire's  dam  are  of  the 
best  possible.  In  show  points  he  is  not  much  of  a  looker  as  a 
rule,  hackle  and  saddle  badly  broken,  plenty  of  white  on 
breast,  thighs  and  fluff,  which  of  course  gives  him  a  light 
colored  appearance.    The  striping  of  hackle  and  saddle  should 

PLATE  100. 


MALE  AND  FEMALE  WING  FEATHERS  FROM  WELL  MARKED 
SILVER  PENCILED  WYANDOTTES. 

Male :     1 — Primary.     2 — Secondary. 
Female :     3 — Primary.     4 — Secondary. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 
PLATE  101. 


SILVER-PENCILED    WYANDOTTE    FEATHERS    OF    FEMALES. 

1 — Wing  primary.     2 — Wing  secondary.     3 — Lower  main  tail. 

4 — Upper  main  tail.     5 — Top  tail  feather. 

(Best  obtainable.) 

be  well  defined  for  cockerel  breeders.  Hackle  in  females  for 
pullet  breeders  is  apt  to  show  more  or  less  penciling  in  it.  You 
see  it  rather  bucks  nature  to  put  penciling  on  all  body  feath- 
ers except  neck  and  it  will  finally  push  into  hackles  more  or 
less." 

We  will  add  that  the  most  perfect  pencilings  are  not  ob- 
tained the  first  year.  Pullets  which  appear  rather  light  in 
color,  especially  under  the  throat  and  upper  breast,  will  moult 
into  finely  penciled  hens  as  a  rule.    Regarding  single  matings 


AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


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WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  265 

producing  good  results,  Jas.   S.  Wason  is   authority  for  tlie 
following: 

"These  birds  were  all  produced  by  the  single  mating  and 
high  scoring  males  and  females  came  from  the  same  pen. 

"The  mating  from  which  these  birds  were  produced  con- 
sisted of  females  with  a  clear,  soft  gray  ground,  clearly  pen- 
ciled with  three  distinct  black  marginal  stripes  or  circles. 
The  male  that  headed  the  pen  was  a  bird  of  Standard  size, 
nice  yellow  legs;  bay  eyes,  silvery  white  top  color  and  solid 
black  breast.  It  is  generally  believed  that  white  ticking  on 
breast  of  male  is  preferably  in  pullet  matings  but  my  experi- 
ence does  not  confirm  this  theory.  On  the  contrary,  my  best 
results  have  come  through  a  male  bird  as  described  above, 
providing  the  under-color  is  not  too  dark.  The  preference 
being  for  a  lead  under-color  shading  lighter  as  it  approaches 
the  skin.  Such  a  male  having  good  striped  neck  and  saddle 
and  having  beetle  green  on  tail  and  wing  bars  will  give  excel- 
lent results  if  mated  to  females  with  the  soft  gray  and  black 
combination  rather  than  the  objectionable  reddish  color  so 
often  seen  in  this  variety  of  fowl. 

"In  conclusion  will  say  that  size  of  bird  and  color  of  eye 
are  two  important  items  in  selecting  breeders;  small  speci- 
mens and  those  having  light  or  fish  colored  eyes  are  to  be 
avoided."     (The  Wyandottes.) 

Line  Breeding. — In  selecting  breeding  stock,  the  elimina- 
tion of  inferior  specimens  and  the  building  up  of  superior 
strains  by  careful  selection  of  sire  and  dam  is  of  paramount 
importance.  This  is  what  is  termed  in-and-in  breeding,  or 
more  recently  and  popularly  known  as  line-breeding,  which 
is  in  line  with  Nature's  laws  that  govern  the  selection  and 
perpetuation  of  the  beasts  of  the  earth  and  the  birds  of  the 
air,  or  in  other  words,  the  survival  of  the  fittest,  and  the  de- 
struction of  the  weaklings.  That  line  breeding  can  be  car- 
ried on  indefinitely  without  destroying  the  vigor  and  stam- 
ina of  the  different  races  of  thoroughbred  live  stock  and  Stand- 
ard-bred poultry  and  pigeons,  provided  always,  however,  only 
the  strong  and  vigorous  males  and  females  are  selected  as 
breeders,  has  been  advocated  by  noted  live  stock  authorities 
for  many  years,  and  found  to  be  sound  in  theory  when  proven 
by  the  results  obtained  from  practical  experiments  in  breeding 
and  building  up  breeds  of  horses,  cattle,  sheep,  swine  and  dogs, 
or  in  developing  and  perfecting  strains  of  poultry. 

As  the  veteran  breeder  of  Dark  Brahmas  significantly  re- 


266 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


marked  when  referring  to  the  selection  of  a  pullet  breeding 
male,  "I  must  know  that  his  dam  and  his  sire's  dam  are  of 
the  best  possible."  The  science  of  color  breeding  as  well  as 
breeding  to  ideal  type  is  that  of  close  selection  of  sire  and 
dam.  Without  such  close  blood  relationship  or  line  breeding, 
no  fixed  color  patterns  can  be  successfully  attained  and  main- 
tained. Like  begets  like.  The  old  rule  followed  by  chicken 
farmers  years  ago,  of  changing  "roosters"  each  year  succeeded 

PLATE  105. 


1 — Photo  showing  neck  and  saddle  of  an  exhibition  cockerel  which  is 
also  a  good  pullet  breeder.  Note  the  broad  strip  in  both  sections.  2 — A 
winner  at  New  York  and  Boston,  1915-16. 


in  mongrelizing  the  American  barnyard  fowl.  Even  in  this 
advanced  age  of  poultry  culture  the  advice  is  frequently  given 
in  agricultural  journals  to  farmers,  that  they  must  make  a 
cross  with  a  male  of  an  unrelated  strain  in  order  to  prevent 
their  flock  from  "running  out."  This  changing  of  males,  if 
followed,  will  be  for  the  worse  more  often  than  for  the  better. 
When  new  blood  must  be  added  to  a  breeding  flock,  select  it 
from  the  same  line  or  strain  of  blood,  no  matter  what  it  may 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


267 


PLATE  106. 


Upper  left,  1st  cock  Boston,  1913.  Upper  light,  1^1  culU  lio.-,tuii,  IVU7.  Lower 
left,  1st  pullet  Madison  Square  Garden,  X.  V.,  1915.  Lower  right,  a  winner  at 
New    York   and    Boston,    1916.      Winning    Silver    Penciled    Wyandottes. 


268  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

cost.  The  closer  we  breed,  the  nearer  we  will  get  what  we 
want. 

Lewis  F.  Allen,  one  of  America's  most  noted  authorities 
on  cattle,  in  his  book,  "American  Cattle",  expresses  his  views 
on  breeding.  Those  relating  to  line  breeding  of  cattle  principal- 
ly, contain  several  statements  that  can  be  applied  to  the  breed- 
ing of  other  live  stock.  At  the  beginning  of  this  most  interest- 
ing chapter,  Mr.  Allen  lays  down  the  following  fundamental 
rule.  "Uniform  perfection  or  excellence,  or  the  highest  quality 
in  appearance  cannot  always  be  expected  in  the  produce  of 
even  an  almost  perfect  sire  and  dam.  Every  now  and  then, 
in  the  finest  herds,  there  will  come  a  creature  of  inferior  ap- 
pearance, decidedly  lacking  some  prominent  good  point  pos- 
sessed by  both  parents,  or  one  of  them.  Yet  even  this  inferior 
production  having  the  good  blood  of  his  parents,  constitution, 
health,  and  all  else  being  right,  may  prove  as  good  a  sire  or 
dam  as  the  very  best  of  their  superior  relatives." 

The  same  rule  can  be  applied  to  poultry,  in  fact  there  are 
numerous  instances  on  record  where  such  inferior  specimens 
were  used  successfully  in  the  breeding  pens.  A  breeder  of 
Silver  Wyandottes  lost  one  of  his  best  males,  and  hesitated  to 
use  a  cockerel  with  hens  in  the  pen,  because  he  was  not  pre- 
possessing in  appearance.  But  he  was  line-bred,  with  the 
best  of  blood  flowing  in  his  veins.  Acting  on  the  advice  of  a 
friend,  he  forgot  all  about  the  looks  of  the  bird  and  placed  him 
at  the  head  of  the  pen  of  birds  of  the  same  line  of  blood  and 
succeeded  in  getting  a  fair  percentage  of  high  class  youngsters 
from  the  mating,  whereas  had  a  cross  with  foreign  blood  been 
made,  the  result  might  have  proved  disappointing.  LIKE 
WILL  BEGET  LIKE  ONLY  WHEN  THE  BLOOD  IS 
THERE.  (J.  H.  D.) 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


SECTION     VII. 

CHAPTER  I. 
COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTES. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  ORIGIN  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 

THE  early  history  of  the  Columbian  Wyandotte  is  well 
known.  Its  orig;in  and  its  name  are  credited  to  one 
man,  Mr.  B.  M.  Briggs,  now  of  Rhode  Island. 

Mr.  Briggs  was  born  at  North  Collins,  New  York,  in  1854, 
studied  for  the  ministry,  and  took  up  the  breeding  of  poultry 
as  a  recreation.  He  became  interested  in  the  Silver  Wyandotte 
in  the  early  days  of  this  breed  when  it  was  known  as  the 
American  Sebright,  Init  the  name  of  Briggs  came  into  the  lime- 
light with  the  advent  of  the  White  Wyandotte,  for  he  was 
probably  the  first  to  advertise  this  variety  and  publish  cuts 
of  it  and  descriptive  articles  about  it.  Mr.  Briggs'  White 
Wyandottes  had  resulted  from  breeding  together  white  sports 
that  occasionally  hatched  from  eggs  of  his  Silver  Wyandottes. 

In  1887,  Mr.  Briggs  sold  a  lot  of  White  Wyandottes  to  an 
amateur  fancier  in  Western  New  York  who  lived  near  him  and 
who  had  Barred  Plymouth  Rocks.  By  a  mishap,  a  cross  was 
effected  between  a  Barred  Rock  male  and  one  of  the  White 
Wyandotte  females,  and  as  a  result  two  pullets  were  hatched 
with  striped  hackles  and  bodies  inclined  to  be  white.  Mr. 
Briggs  purchased  the  two  pullets,  for  he  viewed  their  color 
scheme  as  a  prophecy  of  a  new  variety  that  would  have  the 
general  make-up  of  the  White  Wyandotte  with  the  color  of 
the  Light  Brahma. 

Mr.  Briggs  mated  the  two  pullets  the  following  spring  to 
a  fine  White  Wyandotte  male,  and  was  pleased  and  encouraged 
with  the  chicks  produced.  These  new  fowls  were  now  three- 
quarter  Wyandotte. 

He  continued  to  cull  and  carefully  breed  his  stock  until 
1893,  when  he  began  to  introduce  his  new  variety  of  Wyan- 
dottes as  the  Columbian,  having  taken  the  name  from  the 
Columbian  Exposition  or  World's  Fair  which  was  held  in  Chi- 
cago that  year.    Mr.  Briggs  sold  a  number  of  eggs  for  hatching 


270  AMERICAN  POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

in  1893  in  l:)oth  the  East  and  the  West,  but  sold  no  stock  until 
1894. 

The  first  Columbian  Wyandottes  to  be  exhibited  were 
shown  by  Mr.  Briggs  at  the  Providence,  Rhode  Island,  Show, 
December,  1894.  In  1896  he  exhibited  five  birds  at  the  Boston 
Show  and  in  September  of  that  year  disposed  of  his  entire 
stock;  but  five  years  later  again  took  up  the  Columbian  Wyan- 
dotte, securing  birds  from  his  original  line. 

In  a  letter  to  the  American  Fancier,  April  25,  1896,  the 
originator  stated:  "Many  fanciers  have  seemed  to  doubt  the 
declaration  that  they  { Columbian  Wyandottes)  contain  no 
Light  Brahma  blood,  but  we  are  ready  to  afifirm  that  no  in- 
troduction of  Light  Brahma  blood  has  ever  been  made  and 
no  such  blood  exists  except  it  may  have  existed  in  the  strain 
of  American  Sebrights  owned  and  bred  by  me  so  long  ago. 
Until  this  year  I  have  kept  the  origin  a  secret,  but  have  con- 
cluded it  better  that  the  fraternity  should  know  their  origin 
than  form  so  many  erroneous  conclusions  and  still  remain  in 
the  dark." 

In  more  recent  years,  however,  beginning  about  1900  and 
extending  for  a  decade.  Light  Brahma  blood  was  infused.  Mr. 
Briggs  expressed  the  opinion  that :  "Too  strong  an  infus'on 
of  Light  Brahma  blood  would  have  a  tendency  to  destroy  the 
Wyandotte  type,"  and  "if  we  want  the  Wyandotte  we  must 
conform  to  the  Wyandotte  type."  Nevertheless,  some  breed- 
ers, having  little  confidence  that  they  could  obtain  the  per- 
fection desired  from  the  stock  already  existing,  attempted  to 
make  the  variety  anew  by  the  cross  breeding  of  White  Wyan- 
dottes and  Light  Brahmas.  The  results  were  often  disappoint- 
ing, because  birds  from  the  cross  often  failed  to  inherit  the 
strong  black  markings  of  the  Brahma. 

Whenever  the  Brahma  was  used,  at  least  two  years  were 
required  to  breed  a  few  birds  free  from  the  objectionable  feath- 
ers or  stubs  on  shanks.  Furthermore,  the  crossing  of  the  pea 
combed  Brahma  on  the  rose  combed  Wyandotte  produced  a 
round  rose,  or  strawberry  comb.  These  short,  round  combs, 
sometimes  almost  devoid  of  spike,  which  were  once  so  com- 
mon in  Columbian  Wyandottes,  were  the  result  of  crossing  the 
rose  and  pea  type.  The  production  had  neither  pebbling  like 
the  pure  rose  comb,  nor  distinct  ridges  like  the  pea.  The  skin 
of  the  comb  was  corrugated,  especially  noticeable  in  the 
round,  flat  comb  of  the  male,  and  altogether  it  formed  an  un- 
fortunate type  of  comb  to  be  possessed  by  the  Wyandotte. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  271 

Encouraging  results  were  obtained  both  in  America  and  in 
England  by  crossing  White  and  Silver  Penciled  Wyandottes, 
the  latter  having  the  heavier  color-type  of  the  Dark  Brahma. 
This  cross  produced  true  Wyandottes  in  shape  and  good  Co- 
lumbians in  color. 

One  experienced  Wyandotte  breeder  of  the  West,  Mr.  E.  O. 
Thiem  of  Iowa,  employed  a  Buff  Wyandotte  as  well  as  a  White 
Wyandotte  hen  in  a  cross  with  a  light  colored  Silver  Penciled 
Wyandotte  cockerel.  To  his  surprise,  all  of  the  chicks  had 
the  markings  of  a  Light  Brahma  with  Wyandotte  shape  and 
comb.     Mr.  Thiem  then  employed  some  Light  Brahma  blood. 

Mr.  Theo.  Hewes.  in  "Wyandottes  in  Colors  and  How  to 
Judge  Them,"  states  that:  "Many  breeders  with  the  same  ob- 
ject in  view  have  used  various  crosses  in  their  efforts  to  pro- 
duce a  breed  with  Wyandotte  shape  and  Brahma  markings. 
Several  varieties  of  the  Wyandottes  were  used  by  the  different 
breeders  while  the  Light  Brahmas  have  in  almost  every  in- 
stance been  used  as  one  of  the  crosses  to  better  establish  the 
color." 

In  his  "Principles  and  Practices  of  Poultry  Culture,"  Mr. 
John  H.  Robinson  states  that  breeders  who  took  up  the  Co- 
lumbians resorted  to  other  crosses,  that  the  White  Wyandotte 
and  Light  Brahma  were  used,  and  also  the  White  Wyandotte 
and  Rose-Combed  Rhode  Island  Red.  It  may  be  a  surprise  to 
some  fanciers  to  know  that  buff  and  red  fowls  should  have 
been  employed  in  the  production  of  a  Columbian  Wyandotte. 
This  point  is  discussed  at  some  length  by  Mr.  F.  W.  Proctor 
in  "The  Wyandottes."  He  takes  up  in  detail  the  derivation  of 
the  Columbian  color,  the  essence  of  his  deductions  being  that 
the  Columbian  color  is  derivable  from  the  black-red  by  the  ob- 
literation of  color  from  the  red  areas,  leaving  white  in  such 
sections.  When  in  Belgium  some  years  ago,  the  present  au- 
thor heard  the  late  Mr.  Louis  Vander  Snickt  refer  to  the  Co- 
lumbian color  as  representing  the  best  of  vigor  because  it  was 
a  combination  of  all  colors,  i.  e.,  all  primary  colors  existing  in 
chickens. 

The  liberal  use  of  Light  Brahma  blood  not  only  fixed  the 
black  markings  but  cleared  the  white.  The  brassy  backs  of 
the  early  males  and  the  creamy  color  of  their  consorts  handi- 
capped the  birds  in  the  eyes  of  critical  fanciers.  The  white  of 
the  Columbian  should  be  as  pure,  or  as  free  from  creaminess 
in  the  female  and  brassiness  in  the  male,  as  it  is  in  good  White 
Wyandottes. 


272  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

In  chronicling  his  recollections  of  the  early  Columbian 
Wyandottes,  Mr.  J.  H.  Drevenstedt  wrote  in  the  American 
Poultry  World,  April,  1910:  "The  introduction  of  Light 
Brahma  blood  was  necessary  to  get  the  desirable  color  mark- 
ings. *  *  *  We  remember  some  of  the  early  Columbian 
Wyandottes  quite  well,  and  *  *  *  were  not  carried  away 
with  the  color  points  at  all.  The  hackles  of  males  and  females 
were  weak  in  striping  and  very  light  in  color.  There  was  very 
little  lacing  in  tail  coverts  and  the  primaries  of  both  males  and 
females  were  nearly  white  with  no  really  sharp  black  visible. 
*  *  *  We  believe  it  was  John  Evans,  an  English  fancier 
living  in  Rhode  Island  in  the  latter  part  of  the  nineties,  who 
started  breeding  Columbian  Wyandottes  with  plenty  of  Light 
Brahma  blood  in  his  mated  pens.  Mr.  Evans  had  been  suc- 
cessful in  getting  some  very  strong  Light  Brahma  Bantams 
in  color  and  evidently  knew  how  to  get  quick  and  satisfactory 
color  results  with  Columbians,  for  he  produced  some  remark- 
ably good  pullets  even  in  those  days,  the  hackles  and  tail 
coverts  as  well  as  the  flights  showing  strong  white  and  black 
markings.  With  these  different  strains  developing  in  the  East, 
it  was  not  long  before  the  leading  breeders  of  other  varieties 
began  to  take  an  interest  in  Columbian  Wyandottes  and  they 
got  busy  at  once  with  foundation  stock,  which  they  purchased 
and  improved  by  judicious  selection  and  infusion  of  Light 
Brahma  blood." 

The  Columbian  Wyandotte  was  admitted  to  the  Standard 
at  the  Cincinnati  meeting  of  the  A.  P.  A..  January,  1906.  and 
first  appeared  in  the  second  edition  of  the  1905  Standard,  pub- 
lished in  1906.  The  following  year  115  specimens  were  exhib- 
ited at  the  New  York  show.  A  number  of  prominent  breed- 
ers took  up  the  variety,  and  substantial  progress  was  made  in 
breeding  Standard  Wyandotte  shape  and  Light  Brahma  mark- 
ings. During  the  next  few  years  many  of  the  old  faults  were 
eliminated,  and  the  modern  Columbian  Wyandotte  became  a 
dependable  reproducer  of  good  quality  stock. 

At  the  Boston  Show.  January.  1910,  the  exhibit  of  Colum- 
bian Wyandottes  formed  the  largest  entry  of  anv  one  variety 
in  the  show,  there  being  213  birds  exhibited  by  29  exhibitors. 
The  variety  was  then  emerging  from  the  formative  period,  and 
is  now  in  the  hands  of  keen  fanciers  and  successful  breeders 
who  have  combined  with  typical  Wyandotte  shape  the  sharp 
black  markings  and  pure  white  of  the  Light  Brahmas.  They 
are  also  breeding  good  rose  combs.     (F.  L.  P.) 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  273 


CHAPTER  II. 


STANDARD  REQUIREMENTS  FOR  COLOR  OF 
COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTES. 

Disqualifications. 

One  or  more  solid  black  or  brown  feathers  on  surface  of  back 
of  female ;  positive  black  spots  prevalent  in  web  of  back, 
except  slight  dark  or  black  stripes  in  saddle  near  tail  of 
male,  or  in  cape  of  either  sex ;  shanks  other  than  yellow. 
(See  general  and  Wyandotte  disqualifications.) 

COLOR  OF  MALE. 

Head. — Plumage,  white. 

Beak. — Yellow,  with  dark  stripe  down  upper  mandible. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 

Neck. — Hackle,  web  of  feather,  solid,  lustrous  greenish-black, 
with  a  narrow  edging  of  white,  uniform  in  width,  extend- 
ing around  point  of  feather;  greater  portion  of  shaft,  black; 
plumage  in  front  of  hackle,  white. 

Wings. — Bows  and  coverts,  white,  except  fronts,  which  may 
be  partly  black ;  primaries,  black,  with  white  edging  on 
lower  edge  of  lower  webs;  secondaries,  lower  portion  of 
lower  webs,  white,  sufficient  to  secure  a  white  wing-bay, 
the  white  extending  around  end  of  feathers,  and  lacing 
upper  portion  of  upper  webs,  this  color  growing  wider  in 
the  shorter  secondaries,  sufficient  to  show  white  on  surface 
when  wing  is  folded ;  remainder  of  each  secondary,  black. 

Back. — Surface  color,  white ;  cape,  black  and  white ;  saddle, 
white,  except  feathers  covering  root  and  sides  of  tail  which 
should  be  white  with  a  narrow  V-shaped,  black  stripe  at 
end  of  each  feather,  tapering  to  a  point  near  its  lower  ex- 
tremity. 

Tail.^ — Black ;  the  curling  feathers  underneath,  black  laced 
with  white;  sickles  and  coverts,  lustrous  greenish-black; 
smaller  coverts,  lustrous  greenish-black  edged  with  white. 

Breast. — Surface,  white ;  undercolor,  bluish-white,  at  juncture 
with  body,  bluish-slate. 


PLATE  107. 


COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTE  MALE 


PLATE  108. 


COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTE  FEMALE 


276  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Body  and  Fluff. — Body,  white,  except  under  wings,  where  it 

may  be  bkiish-white ;  fluff,  white. 
Legs  and  Toes. — Thighs,  white ;  shanks  and  toes,  yellow. 
Under-Color  of  All  Sections  Except  Breast. — Bluish-slate. 

COLOR  OF  FEMALE. 

Head. — Plumage,  white. 

Beak. — Yellow,  with  dark  stripe  down  upper  mandible. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 

Neck. — Feathers  beginning  at  juncture  of  head,  web,  a  brcjad, 
solid,  lustrous  greenish-black,  with  a  narrow  lacing  of  white 
extending  around  the  outer  edge  of  each  feather ;  shaft, 
black ;  feathers  in  front  of  neck,  white. 

Wings. — Bows  and  coverts,  white ;  primaries,  black  with  white 
edging  on  lower  edge  of  lower  webs ;  secondaries,  lower 
portion  of  lower  webs,  white,  sufficient  to  secure  a  white 
wing-bay,  the  white  extending  around  the  end  and  lacing 
upper  portion  of  upper  webs,  this  color  growing  wider  in 
the  shorter  secondaries,  sufficient  to  show  white  on  surface 
when  wing  is  folded ;  remainder  of  each  secondary,  black. 

Back. — White ;  cape,  black  and  white. 

Tail. — Black,  except  the  two  top  feathers,  which  are  laced 
with  white ;  coverts,  black,  with  a  narrow  lacing  of  white. 

Breast. — Surface,  white;  under-color  bluish-white,  at  juncture 
with  body,  bluish-slate. 

Body  and  Fluff. — Body,  white,  except  under  wings,  where  it 
may  be  bluish-white ;  fluff,  white. 

Legs  and  Toes. — Thighs,  white ;  shanks  and  toes,  yellow. 

Under-Color  of  All  Sections  Except  Breast. — Bluish-slate. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


277 


CHAPTER  III. 


BREEDING  PROBLEMS  DISCUSSED. 

THE  COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTE,  in  general  terms, 
has  a  white  body  color,  a  black  tail,  black  stripes  in  its 
neck  feathers,  and  black  in  the  feathers  of  its  wings. 
These  black  points,  sharply  contrasting  with  the  white,  make 
the  beauty  of  the  Columbian.  Some  shape  and  size  were  tem- 
porarily sacrificed  to  get  them,  but  today  we   find  birds  of 


PLATE  109. 


COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTE  MALE  HACKLE. 

1— Idealized.     2— Best  natural.     3— Average.     4 — Too   light.     5— Too 
light.     6 — Too  dark. 


278 


AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


splendid  type  and  good  substance,  carrying  elegant  plumage. 
The  breeder,  however,  should  bear  in  mind  the  importance  of 
good  size  and  good  shaped  heads,  especially  in  his  breeding 
females.  If  they  are  a  little  gray  in  hackle,  and  show  marble 
or  white  in  wings  and  some  weakness  in  the  color  of  tail 
coverts,  they  should  be  mated  to  a  male  that  carries  black  in 
those  sections  in  excess  of  what  is  called  for  in  the  Standard. 


PLATE  110. 


COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTE  MALE  HACKLES. 

1 — A  well  striped  hackle  with  clean  points.  2 — A  smutty  hackle, 
caused  by  the  black  strip  running  into  the  point  of  each  feather  and  form- 
ing a  black  cape.  Cocks  are  very  likely  to  develop  this  defect,  even  those 
which  had  good  necks  when  they  were  cockerels. 


Strength  of  Color  Necessary. — Strength  of  color  is  very 
necessary  in  breeding  Columbians.  When  the  late  Mr.  Her- 
bert N.  Rollins  was  asked  about  mating,  he  replied:  "I  tell 
you  it  takes  color  to  breed  the  necks,  wings  and  tails  we  want 
now-a-days,  so  give  me  a  male  with  good  solid  under-color 
and  some  striping  in  saddle  for  a  breeder  and  the  same  for  a 
show  bird." 

If  there  is  a  lack  of  black  in  both  sexes,  the  mating  should 
not  be  expected  to  produce  good  color.  Weakness  of  color 
was  a  fault  of  the  early  Columbians,  and  the  originator,  in 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


279 


writing  of  the  defects  of  his  early  stock,  set  first :    "Too  light  a 
color  in  hackle." 

The  striped  hackle  is  one  of  the  distinguishing  features  of 
the  variety  and  this  section,  when  it  closely  approaches  per- 


PLATE  111. 


COLI'MBIAX  WYANDOTTE  FEMALi:  AM.)  MALE  HACKLE. 

The  above  photos  show  the  excellent  lacing  obtained  on  the  fronts  of 
hackles,  in  both  sexes,  on  well  bred  specimens.  This  is  an  important 
quality  for  exhibition  and  breeding. 


fection,  is  one  of  its  principal  objects  of  beauty.  Each  feather 
should  be  black,  clearly  laced  with  white.  Weakness  of  color 
in  hackle  is  due  to  a  weak,  black  stripe  in  the  individual  neck 
feathers. 

A  very  dark  hackle  is  secured  when  the  black  runs  cnit  to 
the  very  point  of  the  feather,  producing  a  heavy  colored, 
"smutty"  end.  This  results  in  the  appearance  around  the 
lower  neck  of  what  is  termed  a  "shawl."     A  neck  composed 


280  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

of  such  feathers  is  sometimes  seen  on  cocks  after  they  have 
moulted  in  the  fall.  Such  a  bird  may  later  in  the  winter  grow 
a  second  set  of  neck  feathers  that  are  free  from  the  black  tip. 
In  this  case,  the  smutty  hackle  is  referred  to  as  a  "summer 
hackle," 

The  Standard  hackle  feather,  with  its  margin  of  white,  may 
show  some  weakness  in  its  black  in  the  form  of  white  about 
half-way  down  the  stripe.  This  is  a  defect  in  many  males,  but 
may  not  be  noticeable  except  when  the  hackle  is  opened  for 
examination.  Breeders  desire  as  sound  a  stripe  as  possible. 
The  females  picked  to  produce  strong  black  stripes  in  males 
are  those  with  sound  stripes  and  dark  under-color  in  neck 
plumage. 

The  black  of  the  Columbian  neck  should  not  be  a  dull 
black,  but  a  black  that  is  bright  because  it  is  full  of  greenish 
lustre.  A  light,  weak  colored  hackle  is  usually  composed  of 
grayish  feathers. 

A  light  hackle  may  be  improved  in  two  ways :  (a)  by 
breeding  a  male  with  a  very  black  hackle;  (b)  by  employing 

PLATE  112. 


COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTE  MALE  WINGS,  HACKLES  AND 
SADDLES. 


1 — A  male  with  excellently  marked  wing  primaries  and  secondaries  and 
well  striped  hackle  and  saddle.  2 — A  poor  wing,  showing  primaries  mot- 
tled with  white.  There  is  also  a  lack  of  striping  in  saddle  and  the  tail 
coverts  poorly  colored. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  281 

PLATE  113. 


COLUMBIAN   WYANDOTTE  MALE   PRIMARIES. 
1 — Idealized.    2 — Best  natural.    3 — Average.    4 — Poor. 


females  with  hackles  that  are  laced  well  up  toward  their 
heads,  even  though  they  possess  an  excess  of  black,  which 
shows  on  the  surface  of  their  backs  in  black  ticks  and  spots. 

The  desirability  of  strength  of  black  in  the  breeding  birds 
was  so  evident  that,  in  the  leading  exhibitions  of  a  few  years 
ago,  females  which  showed  black  in  the  surface  of  their  black 
plumage  were  among  the  winners.  The  Standard  of  1905 
(second  edition,  published  1906)  called  for  a  white  back,  but 
the  1910  specified:  "Occasional  black  ticking  not  a  serious 
defect."  It  was  at  this  period  that  the  greatest  advances  in 
fixing  the  Columbian's  markings  were  made.  Two  leading 
Columbian  judges  of  the  day,  Mr.  Eugene  Sites,  who  handled 
the  classes  at  New  York,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Faulkner,  who 
judged  at  Chicago,  favored  the  excess-colored  females  because 
of  their  strong  black  points  in  neck,  wings  and  tail  .  To  their 
leniency  and  encouragement  was  due  in  no  small  measure  the 
progress  that  breeders  made  in  strengthening  the  black  mark- 
ings in  their  flocks. 


282 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


PLATE  114. 


EXHIBITION  COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTE  MALE  SADDLE. 


The  above  feathers,  illustrating  best  average,  under-color  and  striping, 
were  taken  from  an  exhibition  male.  See  Plate  115  for  the  color  of 
feathers  in  this  section  of  a  pullet  breeding  male. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  283 


PLATE  lis. 


PULLET  BREEDING   COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTE  MALE 
SADDLE,  BACK  AND  HACKLE. 

1— Saddle.  2,  3,  4— Back.  5— Hackle.  The  above  feathers  illustrate 
the  color  in  these  sections  of  a  male  which  although  not  useful  for  exhibi- 
tion is  employed  to  breed  exhibition  pullets.  See  plate  114  for  saddle 
feathers  of  an  exhibition  male. 


284 


AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


The  under-color  of  the  plumage  may  indicate  the  amount 
of  color  pigment  that  a  Columbian  carries.  A  white  under- 
color in  the  back  is  rarely  found  in  combination  with  the  right 
quantity  of  black  in  neck,  wings  and  tail.  When  the  exception 
exists,  the  bird  can  not  be  depended  upon  for  breeding.  As 
this  fact  became  evident  to  practical  breeders,  the  Standard 


PLATE  116. 


COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTE  MALE  SADDLE  AND  BACK. 

1— Tail  covert.     2  and  3— Saddle  feathers.     4  and  5— Feathers  from 
back  between  the  shoulders. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


285 


for  the  female  back  was  chang-ed  from  "Under-color,  white 
or  bluish  white"  in  the  1905  Standard  to  "Under-color,  white, 
bluish  white  or  slate"  in  the  1910  Standard;  and  in  1915,  the 
lighter  tones  were  eliminated  from  the  Standard  description 
of  the  Columbian  female  back,  and  the  text  now  reads : 
"Under-color,  bluish  slate."  This  tone  to  the  underplumage 
is  consistent  with  the  black  points  required  in  the  important 
sections. 

The  female  with  lighter  under-color  can  be  bred  from  by 
using  a  male  with  an  excess  of  black.  A  male  may  be  so  dark 
that  he  will  have  solid  black  feathers  and  black  in  the  upper 
breast,  that  is,  in  the  feathers  that  grow  out  of  the  breast 
muscles.  Such  a  bird  is  often  a  valuable  producer  when  mated 
with  females  that  are  lacking  in  black. 


PLATE  118. 


A  pullet  breeding  Columbian 
Wyandotte  male  showing  correct 
shade  of  under-color  and  saddle 
striping  to  produce  well  marked 
pullets. 


Columbian  Wyandotte  male 
with  the  broad  strip  in  saddle  and 
back  and  the  laced  cape  feathers 
at  the  base  of  hackle  found  on 
the  best  pullet  breeders. 


286 


AMERICAN  POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


Weak  Wing  Color.- — ^Weakness  in  color  of  wings  is  an  old 
fault.  While  the  wing  appears  white  when  folded,  it  is  impor- 
tant in  a  show  specimen  that  when  the  wing  is  opened  the 
primaries  and  secondaries  shall  display  correct  black  mark- 
ings.   A  specimen  weak  in  wing  color  cannot  win  where  there 

PLATE  119. 


COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTE  SMALLER  SICKLES. 

1 — Smaller  sickle  defective  because  of  white  at  the  base,  otherwise 
good.  2- — Feather  defective  on  account  of  an  admixture  of  white. 
3 — Idealized,  or  perfect,  smaller  sickle. 

The  above  feathers,  each  taken  from  a  different  specimen,  illustrate 
in  1  and  2  defects  often  found  in  this  section  of  the  variety  and  in  3  the 
color  that  all  breeders  strive  to  obtain. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  287 

PLATE  120. 


COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTE  MAIN   SICKLES. 

1 — A  defective  sickle.     2 — Correctly  colored. 
The  above  feathers,  taken  from  different  males,  show,  in  1,  a  common 
defect  in  this  variety  and,  in  2,  the  practically  perfectly  colored   feather. 

are  in  the  competition  birds  otherwise  as  good  that  have  good 
wings.  If  a  dark  male  is  mated  to  feinales  with  white  body 
color  that  are  weak  in  wing  color,  it  will  help  to  secure  good 
wings  on  the  progeny.  Such  a  sire  should  have  dark  slate 
under-color,  nearly  to  the  base  of  the  feathers,  the  slate  in 
underplumage  coming  to  the  surface  in  the  fluff  where  some 
black  may  show  in  the  surface. 

Strong  colored  females  with  good  wings  should  be 
employed  to  correct  defective  wing  color  in  males.  It  is  a  bit 
easier  to  get  the  solid  black  primaries  in  the  wings  of  a  male, 
for  pullets  often  fail  in  wing  color  when  they  moult  into  hens. 
A  hen  with  truly  sound  wings  is  a  valuable  acquisition  and  her 
chicks  may  be  looked  forward  to  with  generous  expectations. 

At  one  time  it  was  a  fad  among  certain  breeders,  and  some 
judges,  to  give  undue  attention  and  attach  too  much  im- 
portance to  correctly  colored  wing  primaries  and  secondaries. 
While  it  is  not  advisable  to  value  any  section  more  highly  than 
the  Standard  specifies,  yet  these  exceptionally  well-colored 
wings,  very  closely  approaching  the  exact  requirements  of  the 


288  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Standard,  are  particularly  valuable,  as  explained  in  the  follow- 
ing quotation  from  the  Fifth  Annual  Catalogue  of  the  Colum- 
bian Wyandotte  Club : 

"My  experience  is  that  a  Standard  wing  is  an  almost  sure 
guarantee  against  fading  with  age.  Last  year  at  our  State 
Club  Show  in  Rochester,  I  won  first,  second,  fourth  on  pul- 
lets. My  first  and  fourth  pullets  had  good  surface  color  and 
excellent  wings.     My  second  pullet  had  a  most  beautiful  sur- 

PLATE  121. 


COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTES  SHOWING  EXCESS  OF   COLOR. 

The  above  photos  show  female  and  male  on  which  the  black  appears  out  of  its 
proper  sections.  In  both  specimens  this  extra  color  will  be  seen  in  front  of  wings, 
in  wing-bar  and  on  fluff.  These  are  defects  which  are  not  countenanced  in  exhibition 
specimens  but  are  occasionally  useful  in  breeding  to  strengthen  the  black  in  hackle, 
saddle  and  tail  in  strains  which  are  weak  in  that  respect. 

face  color  and  almost  perfect  shape,  but  was  little  off  in  wing. 
However,  there  was  more  or  less  criticism  or  at  least  difference 
of  opinion  when  Judge  Andruss  did  not  place  her  first.  Now 
this  year  she  has  gone  back.  Not  so  sharp  in  hackle,  rather 
mottled  tail  coverts,  a  faded  appearing  wing  and  nowhere  near 
so  good  a  bird  as  the  others.  The  other  two  pullets  won  first 
and  second  at  Rochester  this  year  as  hens  with  the  same  sharp 
coloring  that  they  had  as  pullets,  and  the  first  Rochester  pul- 
let of  a  year  ago  won  first  hen,  shape,  special,  silver  cup  for 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  289 

the  best  type  female  at  the  Club  show  in  Philadelphia  in 
December.  She  has  been  shown  seven  times  and  won  seven 
prizes  and  numerous  specials,  including  best  Columbian  in 
show  at  our  last  state  show  in  Rochester.  Her  black  wing  has 
held  her  color  in  the  other  sections." 

Fading   Color. — Fading  has   also   been   observed   in   some 
males  as  they  have  passed  from  cockerels  to  cocks  and  in  no 

PLATE  122. 


COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTE  FEMALE  HACKLE  AND  TAIL  COVERTS. 

1 — Ideal  hackle  feather.  2 — Best  natural  hackle  feather.  3 — Average  hackle 
feather.  4 — Hackle  feather  that  is  too  pointed.  5 — Best  natural  lacing  at  throat. 
6 — Too  wide  and  irregular  lacing  of  white  and  objectionable  white  thafting.  7-- 
Hackle  feather  that  is  too  dark.  8 — Tail  covert  that  is  defective  on  account  of  too 
small     and     irregular     black     center. 


section  is  the  change  more  noticeable  than  in  tail.  The  tail 
should  be  black — glossy,  greenish  black — in  the  male.  The  tail 
coverts  may  be  edged  with  white,  indeed  such  a  finish  adds 
greatly  to  the  beauty  of  the  section.  However,  the  sickle  feath- 
ers of  cocks  often  show  some  white  edging,  and  the  main  tail 
feathers  some  white  at  the  base.  When  the  males  are  shown 
in  the  winter,  their  sickles  are  not  always  full  grown,  but  the 
white  may  begin  to  show  later  on. 

To  overcome  these  defects  in  color,  the  main  tail  feathers 
of  the  female  breeders  should  be  as  black  as  possible,  including 


290  AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

the  two  top  feathers.  To  get  solid  black  main  tail  and  sickles 
in  the  males  and  have  the  color  hold,  do  not  trust  to  a  female 
whose  top  main  tail  feathers  are  edged  with  white.  This 
means  giving  the  preference  to  females  whose  tails  are  darker 
than  the  Standard  calls  for. 

Heavily  laced  coverts,  with  weak  black  centers,  are  found 
on  the  females  that  are  weak  in  hackle  and  wing  and  have  a 
whitish  under-color.  This  section  cannot  be  improved  by 
breeding  with  such  females,  white  saddled  males  themselves 
weak  in  laced  tail  coverts.  Laced  coverts  in  the  male  are.  from 
the  breeding  standpoint,  reciprocally  related  to  the  same  sec- 
tion in  the  female. 

PLATE  123. 


COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTE  FEMALE  SECONDARIES. 

1— Poor.  2— Average.  3— Best  natural.  4— Idealized.  S— Best  natu- 
ral male  secondary  shown  here  for  purposes  of  camparison.  The  same 
defects  are  found  in  male  secondaries  that  are  here  illustrated  by  the 
female  feathers. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


291 


PLATE  124. 


COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTE  FEMALE  COLOR. 

1 — Photo  showing  excellent  tail  coverts,  good  wing  primaries,  good 
hackle  and  one  secondary  feather  of  wing,  showing  good  marking  and 
strong  black  color.  2 — A  well  colored  female  in  all  sections  except  back, 
where  black  ticking  shows  on  the  cushion.  This  ticking  is  quite  often 
found  on  females  with  well  laced  tail  coverts  and  well  marked  wings  and 
is  usually  of  a  brownish  color,  not  intense  black. 


The  saddle  of  the  Columbian  male  should  show  some 
striping,  the  same  joining  gradually  with  the  similarly  marked 
tail  coverts.  A  pure  white  saddle  offers  a  great  contrast  with 
the  tail  section,  but  the  tail  coverts  of  such  a  male  are  bound 
to  show  too  much  white.  Where  the  saddle  carries  some 
striping,  the  color  blends  into  the  tail  and  finely  laced  coverts 
may  be  secured. 

A  fault  of  many  Columbian  males  is  the  prevalence  of 
brassiness.  This  fortunately  is  being  rapidly  overcome  in  the 
best  strains  and  a  white  free  from  the  objectionable  yellow 
tarnish  is  now  produced.  The  body  plumage  of  some  females 
shows  a  creamy  or  brickish  white,  but  clearness  of  color  can 
and  should  be  secured  in  them. 

The  beginner  with  this  variety  should  not  cull  his  growing 
birds  until  September,  lest  he  eliminate  some  "diamonds  in 


292 


AMERICAX   POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


PLATE  125. 


COLUMBIAN  WYANDOTTE  FEMALE  COLOR  DEFECTS. 

1 — This  photo  shows  a  female  without  sufficient  black  pigment,  which 
causes  very  defective  wing  primaries  and  tail  coverts  and  pure  white 
under-color.  2 — This  female  has  too  much  black  pigment,  causing  black 
to  appear  on  the  surface  of  back,  a  black  bar  and  too  much  slate  in  the 
under-color  and  black  on  the  wings,  giving  the  appearance  of  a  wing-bar. 


the  rough."  Even  at  this  time,  pullets  may  show  some  black 
in  back  and  clear  up  later.  To  determine  whether  the  surface 
of  the  back  plumage  will  eventually  be  white,  pick  up  the  birds 
and  look  underneath  their  feathers  and  observe  closely  the 
new  plumage  that  is  growing.  A  young  bird  grows  about 
three  sets  of  feathers  between  the  time  it  is  hatched  and  its 
first  winter,  and  the  new  plumage  that  April  hatched  pullets 
begin  to  grow  in  September  is  the  plumage  that  they  will  carry 
at  the  opening  of  the  winter  shows.     (F.  L.  P.) 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  293 


PLATE  126. 


"DANDY  JIAI  AXD  MATES." 


The  above  pen  of  Columbian  Wyandottes  was  photographed  in  1895 
and  the  photo  published  in  Farm  Poultry  in  1905.  It  shows  the  type  and 
color  of  Columbian  Wyandottes,  the  best  specimens,  at  that  time.  These 
are  from  a  flock  that  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  to  breed  true  to  type. 


294 


AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 
PLATE  127. 


H 

i^^mtm^ 

|i^fe|afe«.'^A^  '^    '-f^'       .  *:  l,;:- 

Development  of  Columbian  Wyandottes.  I^pper  left,  1st  cock  Boston,  1907. 
Upper  right,  1st  cockerel  Madison  Square  Garden,  X.  Y.,  1910.  Lower  left,  1st 
cockerel  Chicago,  1912.  Lower  right,  1st  pen  cockerel  Madison  Square  Garden, 
N.   Y.,   1915. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


295 


PLATE  128. 


■■■4        -'^'^^ 

1 

m 

K^ 

-^^ 

'  _^^i^i^^^^^^l 

j^^o 

^^^Tm 

Development  of  Columbian  W'yandottes.  L'pper  left,  1st  pullet  Jamestown  Expo- 
sition, 1907.  I'pper  right,  1st  hen  Boston,  1909.  Lower  left,  1st  hen  Buffalo, 
1912.      Lower  right,   1st  hen  Madison   Square   Garden,   N.   Y.,   1915. 


296  AMERICAN  POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


SECTION     VIII. 

CHAPTER  I. 
BLACK  WYANDOTTES. 

HISTORY  OF  THE  ORIGIN  AND  DEVELOPMENT. 

THE  early  Silver  Wyandotte  was  made  up  of  different 
breeds  to  an  extent  that  out  of  the  variety  came  both 
white  and  black  sports.  Two  breeders  residing  in  Ohio, 
namely,  Messrs.  F.  M.  Clemens  and  F.  J.  Marshall,  took  advan- 
tage of  black  sports  that  came  from  the  Silvers,  and  by  selec- 
tive breeding  developed  the  Black  Wyandotte. 

The  Marshall  Strain. — In  1885,  Mr.  Marshall  produced 
from  his  Silver  Wyandottes  a  pullet  that  was  almost  solid 
black,  and  a  cockerel  that  was  black  except  for  a  silver  hackle 
and  some  light  color  that  showed  on  the  lower  edges  of  the 
wing  primaries.  The  hackle  was  the  worst  feature  of  the 
cockerel,  for  the  neck  feathers  were  almost  pure  white  under- 
neath. Both  birds  had  combs  that  were  a  little  narrow  and 
rather  lumpy,  yet  they  were  pretty  good  combs  as  combs  were 
going  at  that  time  on  Wyandottes. 

As  Mr.  Marshall  had  never  had  any  other  mating  that  pro- 
duced black  chicks,  he  was  much  interested  in  the  two  birds, 
and  he  bred  from  the  pair  the  following  spring  (1886),  saving 
every  egg  that  the  pullet  laid,  and  was  successful  in  raising 
about  twenty  chicks.  Of  the  pullets,  five  were  of  good  black 
color  and,  in  addition  to  them,  Mr.  Marshall  kept  two  of  the 
cockerels  which,  however,  were  not  as  black  as  he  desired, 
having  some  white  in  under-color  of  the  hackle  and  over  the 
hips.  That  same  year  another  black  pullet  was  produced  by 
the  original  Silver  mating,  which  enabled  this  breeder  to  breed 
his  Blacks  for  some  three  seasons  without  the  introduction  of 
other  blood. 

At  the  end  of  this  time,  having  learned  that  Mr.  Clemens 
was  breeding  some  black  sports  that  had  been  produced  in 
the   same   manner,    Mr.    Marshall    exchanged    cockerels    with 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  297 

him,  and  thus  introduced  new  blood  into  his  stock.  Said  he : 
"I  then  began  to  advertise  them  and  sell  a  few  eggs,  and  so  the 
thing  moved  along.  I  bred  them  for  some  seven  years.  In  my 
experience  I  rarely  got  anything  but  solid  black  females,  but 
got  a  good  many  males  that  were  off  in  color.  The  white  in 
under-color  of  neck  was  hard  to  get  rid  of.  In  all,  however,  I 
think  that  they  bred  true  to  color,  shape  and  markings  much 
sooner  than  most  new  breeds,  from  the  fact  that  they  were 
true  sports  and  not  made  by  crosses." 

The  Clemens  Line. — It  was  also  in  1885  that  Mr.  Clemens 
possessed  two  black  pullets  that  had  sported  out  of  Silver  stock, 
and  a  cockerel  similarly  bred  that  had  black  body  color  but  a 
silvery  hackle.  The  Silver  Wyandotte  had  been  admitted  to 
the  Standard  just  two  years  previous,  and  interest  was  taken 
in  new  varieties  of  what  promised  to  prove  a  very  popular 
l^reed.  Accordingly,  Mr.  Clemens  bred  from  the  trio,  and,  as 
he  stated:  "Built  up  a  true  breeding  strain  of  Blacks,  which 
are  credited  with  being  the  foundation  of  those  we  now  have." 

The  chicks  from  Mr.  Clemens'  first  mating  "Were  almost 
solid  black,  only  a  few  showing  the  hackle  markings  of  the 
sire.  The  fixing  of  the  color  was  not  very  difficult,  the  main 
problem  arising  from  the  dearth  of  fresh  blood  with  which  to 
keep  up  their  stamina.  This  was  overcome  by  securing,  a  little 
later  on,  several  pure  black  pullets,  sports  from  the  yards  of 
Silver  Wyandotte  breeders,  and  also  in  the  following  manner : 
About  1890,  a  friend  who  owned  an  exceptionally  fine  stock  of 
Barred  Plymouth  Rocks  obtained  from  me  a  well-marked 
Black  Wyandotte  cockerel  and  mated  him  to  his  Barred  Rock 
females.  The  result  of  the  cross  was  peculiar.  Every  cockerel 
was  true  Barred  Rock  in  color,  while  every  pullet  was  a  true 
Black  Wyandotte  in  color,  comD  and  shape,  but  with  superior 
size  and  stamina,  and  with  increased  ability  as  an  egg  pro- 
ducer. I  was  so  impressed  with  the  size  and  beauty  of  these 
pullets  that  I  selected  a  few  of  the  best  and  mated  them  to  a 
pure  Black  Wyandotte  male.  The  product  was,  of  course, 
three-fourths  Black  Wyandotte,  and  not  one  showed  any 
Plymouth  Rock  markings,  but  the  large  size  and  splendid  egg- 
producing  qualities  continued.  I  think  that  to  fusion  with  this 
blood  is  partially  due  the  superior  size  and  vigor  of  the  pres- 
ent-day Black  Wyandotte."  (Quotation  from  a  letter  written 
by  Mr.  P.  M.  Clemens  to  Mr.  F.  W.  Proctor  and  printed  in 
"The  Wyandottes."  published  by  Reliable  Poultry  Journal 
Publishing  Co.)    Mr.  Clemens  continued  to  breed  Black  Wyan- 


298  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

dottes  for  a  quarter  of  a  century,  disposing  of  his  stock  in  1910 
to  Mr.  Frank  C.  Stiles  of  Ohio. 

The  thought  and  care  that  Mr.  Clemens  bestowed  upon  his 
birds  brought  them  to  a  condition  of  good  reproducing  power, 
and  they  could  be  depended  upon  to  produce  solid  black  plu- 
mage with  good  dark  under-color,  red  ear-lobes,  dark  shanks, 
and  correct  style  and  shape  of  comb. 

Admitted  to  the  Standard. — The  Black  Wyandotte  was 
admitted  to  the  Standard  of  Perfection  in  1893  and  appeared 
in  the  edition  of  1894.  The  variety,  unlike  other  Wyandottes, 
was  permitted  to  have  black  shanks.  In  fact,  the  disqualifica- 
tions for  Black  Wyandottes  were:  "Shanks  other  than  black, 
shading  into  willow  or  yellow  ;  bottoms  of  feet  other  than  yel- 
low in  color;  pure  white  in  any  part  of  the  plumage  extending 
over  half  an  inch,  or  two  or  more  feathers  tipped  or  edged 
with  positive  white." 

Good  color  of  plumage  became  an  established  quality  in 
the  Black  Wyandottes,  Mr.  Clemens,  as  well  as  contem- 
poraneous breeders  who  had  taken  up  the  variety,  doing  much 
to  develop  the  sound,  rich,  glossy  black  so  much  desired  in  all 
black  varieties.  The  Standard  requirement  of  black  shanks 
was  consistent  with  the  solid  black  plumage  demanded,  and 
the  variety  made  good  progress. 

Plumage  and  Shank  Color. — Black  plumage,  free  from 
white,  can  be  bred  when  yellow  shanks  are  not  required. 
"Good  surface  and  under-color  are  always  accompanied  by  a 
dark  shank.  Too  much  yellow  in  shank  will  mean  light  under- 
color nine  times  out  of  ten.  *  *  *  This  was  threshed  out 
years  ago,  and  the  present  dark  shank  as  described  in  the 
Standard,  with  yellow  shading  allowed,  and  with  yellow  bot- 
toms to  feet,  was  the  result  of  practical  experience."  So  wrote 
Mr.  Clemens  in  "The  Wyandottes,"  edition  of  1910.  The 
Standard  that  he  referred  to  was  the  1910  edition. 

On  this  subject,  Mr.  T.  F.  McGrew  wrote  in  "The  Wyan- 
dotte," published  by  the  United  States  Department  of  Agricul- 
ture : 

"Breeders  who  thought  it  best  to  have  the  same  yellow 
shanks  and  feet  as  other  Wyandottes  did  much  to  injure  this 
variety  for  several  years.  It  was  finally  settled  that  it  was 
impossible  to  have  the  yellow  shanks  and  feet  with  good  black 
surface  and  under-color.  This  information,  gained  by  bitter 
experience,  resulted  in  establishing  the  original  dark  color  for 
beak,  shanks,  and  feet. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  299 

"It  is  quite  unnatural  for  black  fowls  to  have  other  than 
dark  or  black  legs  and  feet.  When  any  other  color  is  present, 
it  is  an  unnatural  condition,  brought  about  by  artificial  meth- 
ods, which  demand  undue  care  in  their  reproduction  to  pre- 
vent undesirable  colors  coming  into  the  plumage.  Careful 
consideration  of  these  facts  guided  the  framing  of  the  Standard 
description  for  this  new  variety,  which  is:  'Black  shaded  with 
yellow'  as  the  color  for  beak,  shanks,  and  feet,  at  the  same  time 
demanding  that  the  bottom  of  feet  shall  be  yellow,  and  making 
the  absence  of  this  yellow  a  disqualification. 

"Time  has  proved  the  possibility  of  producing  both  good 
shape  and  color  under  these  Standard  requirements.  Within 
the  last  few  years  some  beautifully  colored  specimens  of  excel- 
lent Wyandotte  qualities  have  been  shown,  some  of  them  fully 
the  equal  of  any  of  the  other  varieties.  But  American  preju- 
dice against  black  fowls  has  barred  the  way  of  the  Black 
Wyandottes  to  much  deserved  popularity.  The  same  influence 
has  counted  against  all  other  black  fowls,  many  of  which  have 
qualities  that  rival  any  or  all  other  breeds.  Much  of  this  feel- 
ing has  been  removed  within  the  last  ten  years,  and  it  may  be 
that  a  better  appreciation  is  in  the  future  for  all  fowls  of  this 
color." 

Mr.  McGrew's  comments,  as  above,  were  published  in 
1901.  "Bright  red  or  bay  eyes"  were  called  for  in  the  1905 
Standard,  but  the  1910  Standard  read  :  "Eyes  :  Black  or  dark 
brown,"  the  red  eye  having  been  deemed  inharmonious  with 
the  black  plumage.  However,  during  these  years,  the  color 
requirements  for  shanks  and  feet  remained  practically  the 
same,  to-wit :  "Black,  or  black  shading  into  yellow  or  willow 
with  the  bottoms  of  the  feet  yellow." 

Under  this  natural  Standard,  the  variety  was  successfully 
carried  along,  and  its  progress  in  color  and  type  kept  pace  with 
that  of  the  other  varieties  of  the  Wyandotte  breed,  as  was 
illustrated  at  the  Cleveland  Show,  1910.  when  the  first  prize 
Black  Wyandotte  cockerel  was  awarded  the  American  Poultry 
Association  special  for  the  best  bird  in  the  American  class,  in 
which  competed  all  Wyandottes  belonging  to  A.  P.  A.  mem- 
bers. 

At  the  Palace  Show,  New  York  City,  December.  1912.  the 
class  of  Black  Wyandottes  consisted  of  55  specimens  in  com- 
petition. The  next  year,  a  specialty  judge  was  again  engaged, 
and  another  large  class  was  brought  out.  on  which  this  writer 
commented  in  The  Reliable  Poultry  Journal,  as  follows: 


N.  C.  StaU  a 'lege 

300  AMERICAN  POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

"The  Black  Wyandottes  attracted  a  great  deal  of  atten- 
tion. Mr.  Frank  C.  Sites  judged  the  class.  The  first  hen  was 
a  typical,  well  built  specimen,  and  the  first,  second  and  third 
cockerels  a  fine  trio.  With  such  quality  being  produced,  the 
Blacks  deserve  to  rank  as  one  of  the  truest  and  prettiest  mem- 
bers of  the  Wyandotte  family.  And,  we  need  not  worry  about 
the  English  excelling.  True,  the  English  have  the  yellow 
shank,  but  our  breeders  are  producing  true  Wyandotte  type 
and  soundness  of  plumage — which  is  something." 

The  English  were,  indeed,  breeding  a  fine  yellow  shank,  a 
yellow  beak  and  bright  bay  eye ;  but  their  Standard,  instead 
of  calling  for  a  black  under-color,  laid  stress  on  the  beetle- 
green  sheen  of  the  surface,  and  asked  for  an  "under-color  as 
dark  as  possible."  The  English  system  of  judging  is  favora- 
ble to  a  minimum  valuation  of  under-color,  for  birds  in  Eng- 
land are  judged  very  much  as  they  stand  in  their  cages,  and 
not  taken  out  and  examined  closely  as  in  American  shows  A 
bird  in  the  English  shows  that  fails  slightly  in  under-color  may 
still  be  pronounced  "a  grand  good  one,"  but  a  breeder  schooled 
in  the  American  fancy  will  pronounce  him  "faulty,"  and  this 
applies  to  all  varieties. 

The  Black  Wyandotte  became  very  popular  in  England,  a 
real  "boom"  starting  about  1906,  and  at  the  Crystal  Palace 
Show,  in  1908,  140  Black  Wyandottes  were  exhibited,  which 
was  40  more  than  the  birds  of  any  other  variety  totaled.  Thus 
it  was  that  at  a  time  when  the  Black  Orpington  was  being 
imported  from  England,  the  Black  Wyandotte  was  proving  its 
worth  and  making  friends  across  the  seas.  While  the  Wyan- 
dotte, as  a  breed,  is  deservedly  popular  in  England,  the  White 
and  Black  varieties  are  frequently  accorded  first  and  second 
places  respectively. 

Present  Standard  Requirements. — The  popularity  of  the 
Black  Wyandottes  in  England  and  the  yellow  leg  of  the  Eng- 
lish Standard  had  an  influence  in  America.  A  change  was  near 
at  hand,  and  with  the  publication  of  the  1915  Standard  of  Per- 
fection a  new  color-type  was  demanded.  The  Standard  Revi- 
sion Committee  argued  that  reddish-bay  eyes  and  vellow 
shanks  are  breed  characteristics  of  the  Wyandotte ;  therefore, 
all  varieties  should  conform  to  these  distinguishing  features  of 
the  breed. 

It  is  true  that  Black  Orpington  blood  had  been  introduced 
in  a  few  American  Black  Wyandottes,  it  having  been  used  to 
produce  a  deep  green  lustre,  and  round,  full  type  in  flocks  that 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  301 

needed  reinforcement;  and  as  a  result,  black-shanked  Black 
Wyandottes,  with  nearly  white  feet,  had  been  exhibited  and 
detected.  Representative  Black  Wyandotte  breeders  stated 
that  they  were  sensible  of  the  need  of  a  slight  change  from  the 
black  eyes  and  shanks  of  the  Black  Orpington,  and  the 
Standard  Revision  Committee  evinced  a  desire  to  meet  the 
breeders  on  some  common  ground.  The  result  was  that  the 
Committee  wrote  into  the  1915  Standard  a  specification  for 
Black  Wyandotte  shanks  as  follows : 

"Shanks  and  toes:     Yellow  or  dusky  yellow." 

The  "dusky  yellow"  clause  is  possible  of  a  rather  liberal 
interpretation,  yet  it  is  in  sharp  contrast  to  the  black  shanks 
that  were  common  in  the  variety.  Perceiving  that  more  lee- 
way should  be  given  the  breeders,  a  change  was  ma(ie  in  the 
description  of  under-color,  and  instead  of  being  required  to 
have  black  under-color  like  that  of  other  black  legged  varieties 
in  the  1915  Standard,  the  Black  Wyandottes  are  required  to 
have  slate  under-color.  This  is  an  important  concession,  since 
the  future  of  the  variety  depends  upon  the  workability  of  the 
lighter  under-color. 

Breeders  professed  that  such  shanks  and  red  eyes  should 
be  established  as  breed  characteristics  in  all  Wyandottes,  but 
they  maintained  that  they  should  be  given  five  years  in  which 
to  effect  the  change. 

The  future  development  of  the  Black  Wyandotte  depends 
upon  breeders  who  will  come  forward  and  take  it  up  with  a 
determination  to  suceed.     (F.  L.  P.) 


302  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


CHAPTER  II. 

STANDARD  REQUIREMENTS  FOR  COLOR  OF  BLACK 
WYANDOTTES. 

Disqualifications. 

Red  in  any  part  of  plumage  or  white  in  any  feather  extending 
more  than  one-half  inch  ;  shanks  other  than  black  shading 
into  yellow  or  dusky  yellow ;  bottoms  of  feet  other  than 
yellow.     (See  general  and  Wyandotte  disqualifications.) 

COLOR  OF  MALE  AND  FEMALE. 

Beak. — Black,  shaded  with  yellow. 

Eyes. — Reddish-bay. 

Comb,  Face,  Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes. — Bright  red. 

Shanks  and  Toes. — Yellow  or  dusky  yellow. 

Bottoms  of  Feet. — Yellow. 

Plumage. — Lustrous  greenish-b'ack  throughout. 

Under-Color  of  All  Sections. — Slate. 


CHAPTER  III. 
METHODS  OF  BREEDING. 

THE  black  variety  of  Wyandottes  is  particularly  suited  to 
poultry  keepers  who  reside  in  the  industrial  districts  of 
cities  or  towns  where  the  coal  soot  makes  a  white,  buff 
or  light  colored  fowl  appear  dirty.  There  is  some  preju- 
dice against  a  black  plumage,  especially  because  dark  pin- 
feathers  may  show  in  the  dressed  carcass ;  however,  epicures 
point  to  this  as  an  assurance  that  the  slaughtered  fowl  will  be 
picked  clean. 

The  skin  of  a  dressed  Black  Wyandotte  is  rich  yellow. 
Standard  size  is  easily  secured,  well-grown  cockerels  and  pul- 
lets occasionally  exceeding  the  standard  weights  by  1  to  1^ 
pounds.  The  females  have  made  quite  a  reputation  as  layers 
among  those  who  have  kept  the  variety.    Mr.  Howard  Grant 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED   BOOK 


303 


tells  of  a  3-year-old  hen  in  his  yards  that  laid  29  eggs  in  30 
consecutive  days,  and  140  eggs  in  the  year,  in  addition  to 
hatching  two  broods  of  chicks  and  brooding  one  of  them.  The 
females  are  not  only  prolific,  but  the  pullets  often  lay  very 
early,  as  was  illustrated  by  a  letter  under  date  of  June  11,  1904, 
from  the  late  Mr.  T.  E.  Orr  to  the  present  author,  which 
stated  :    "We  have  a  Black  Wyandotte  pullet  laying  before  she 


PLATE  129. 


W:&^.-  fi^.  --J-^'y] 


MODERN   BLACK   WYANDOTTES. 

The  above  male,  photographed  when  a  cock,  was  a  winner  of  several 
first  prizes  at  the  largest  shows  in  America.  The  female  represents  the 
average  pullet  of  this  variety. 


is  four  months  old — how  is  that?"  The  vigor  of  the  variety, 
too,  leaves  little  to  be  desired,  a  sitting  of  13  eggs  from  Mr. 
Orr  late  in  the  season  of  the  year  mentioned  producing  13 
chicks. 

Of  course,  unusual  egg  yield  or  growth  is  in  no  small 
measure  due  to  the  efficacy  of  the  poultry  keeper's  methods ; 
however,  the  potential  quality  must  exist  in  the  stock.  We 
mention  these  facts  that  the  reader  may  know  that  Black 
Wyandottes  have  practical  merit,  and  that  the  measure  of  pop- 


304  AMERICAN   POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

ularity  that  they  attained  was  due  to  their  merits  for  the  vari- 
ety has  never  been  promoted  through  heavy  advertising-  in 
American  poultry  papers. 

The  future  of  the  variety  would  seem  to  depend  not  upon 
its  making  up  for  some  defficiency,  but  upon  the  ability  of 
breeders  to  meet  the  present  Standard's  requirements  with  a 
success  that  will  give  them  not  only  a  few  select  show  birds, 
but  a  satisfactory  surplus  of  salable  stock. 

English  Methods.^ — We  must  refer  to  the  English  breeders 
for  advice  on  mating,  for  they  have  devoted  much  time  and 
study  to  it.  On  the  mating  of  Black  Wyandottes,  Mr.  Kings- 
ley  Willet,  Honorary  Secretary  of  the  Black  Wyandotte  Club 
of  England,  has  set  down  the  following  method  as  good  prac- 
tice : 

"At  present  it  is  not  wise  to  attempt  to  breed  exhibition 
birds  of  both  sexes  from  one  pen :  Some  success  can  be 
obtained  by  single  mating,  but  the  proportion  of  decent  birds 
will  be  small,  and  good  cockerels  a  rarity.  Should  there  be 
only  sufficient  space  for  one  pen,  then  devote  your  energies 
either  to  producing  cockerels  or  pullets. 

"Now  let  us  consider  the  case  where  the  fancier  has  either 
birds  of  his  own  to  mate  up  or  has  some  birds,  and  wishes  to 
buy  mates  for  them.  Firstly,  cockerel-breeding.  Select  your 
best  cockerel,  that  is,  the  one  with  the  best  shape  and  soundest 
under-color,  and  mate  him  with  big,  low-built  hens  of  rather 
Orpington  type  to  counteract  the  narrow,  leggy  tendencies  of 
cockerels;  never  mind  if  these  hens  have  dark  legs,  provided 
they  are  sound  in  color  and  are  bred  from  a  sound  colored 
cock. 

"For  the  pullet-breeding  pen,  select  the  best  pullets  from  an 
exhibition  standpoint,  taking  care  that  they  are  true  to  type, 
and  picking  those  having  the  best  leg  color.  Do  not  despair  if 
you  have  no  pullets  with  quite  clear  legs  ;  good  birds  have  been 
bred  from  pullets  having  dusky  legs  with  a  lot  of  yellow  pig- 
ment showing  underneath,  especially  if  the  birds  have  been 
bred  from  good-legged  birds.  Care  must  be  taken  to  select 
pullets  with  as  good  a  green  sheen  as  possible,  avoiding  those 
the  shaft  of  whose  feathers  is  light  in  color,  and  also  those  with 
purple  colorings  on  back  and  wings.  Another  point  to  avoid 
in  the  pullets  is  white  in  flights,  a  disfiguring  and  hereditary 
defect.  The  cock  to  head  this  pen  must  be  pullet-bred  ;  that  is 
to  say,  he  must  be  bred  from  a  good-legged  hen.  Take  the 
greatest  care  not  to  use  a  waster  from  a  cock-breeding  pen ;  he 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  305 

resembles  a  pullet-breeder,  but  will  ruin  your  strain.  Select  a 
cock  with  the  brightest  and  clearest  of  yellow  legs,  plenty  of 
bone  and  size,  and  a  really  good  green  top  color;  never  mind 
if  he  has  ticked  hackles,  or  is  white  in  under-color  and  tail,  if 
bred  right  you  will  breed  good  pullets  from  him.  See  that  he 
has  a  full,  well-rounded  breast,  and  avoid  a  cut-away  breast. 

"I  have  only  touched  on  the  general  principles  of  mating; 
for  other  points,  such  as  good  combs,  eyes  and  beaks,  birds 
must  be  selected  as  good  in  these  points  as  possible,  but  don't 
mate  birds  together  that  have  the  same  defect.  Avoid  light 
eyes  and  white  in  lobe ;  these  defects  spoil  the  best  bird." 

Under-Color  Versus  Surface  Color. — After  all,  it  is  the  old 
question  of  under-color  vs.  surface  color.  The  evidence  is 
invariably  and  definitely  favorable  to  the  possibility  of  com- 
bining pure  yellow  shanks  with  black  surface  color  of  plu- 
mage ;  it  is  when  the  black  of  the  feathers  is  carried  down  to 
the  skin  that  the  shanks  are  dark.  Let  the  breeder,  therefore, 
remember  and  be  encouraged  by  the  fact  that  Black  Wyan- 
dottes  in  America  may  now  have  slate  under-color.  "Slate"  is 
defined  by  the  lexicographer  of  this  text  as  "synonymous  with 
gray,"  and  gray  is  a  color  between  white  and  black.  And 
lastly,  the  breeder,  instead  of  taking  up  old  prejudices  of  the 
fancy,  should  consider  the  wild  birds,  those  marvels  of  nature, 
whose  surface  plumage  is  painted  with  the  brush  of  a  master 
hand,  and  whose  under-color  comes  as  it  will.  In  natural 
selection  the  color  of  the  underplumage  has  no  place,  for  it  can 
exert  no  direct  influence  on  the  instinct  and  preference  of  the 
species,  and  therefore  Nature  is  able  to  concentrate  her  efforts 
on  the  production  of  a  beautiful  and  harmonious  surface  color. 

The  quality  of  the  surface  color  may  vary  greatly.  The 
Standard  calls  for  a  "lustrous  greenish-black,"  and  the  sheen 
and  its  brilliancy  is  the  principal  beauty  of  a  black  fowl.  It  is 
rarely,  however,  that  the  deep  green  sheen  is  found  without 
some  blue  or  purple,  which  takes  the  form  of  barring  across 
the  feathers.  This  is  a  serious  although  common  defect,  and  is 
penalized,  when  the  bird  is  scored,  from  one-half  to  two  points, 
in  each  section  where  found.  Sometimes  the  tail  of  the  male 
has  a  bronze  hue.  A  brownish  cast  is  occasionally  found  in 
females,  due  to  an  insufficient  quantity  of  green  sheen. 

Breeding  for  Color. — The  quality  of  black  color  is  equally 
as  important  as  the  shade  of  bufif  or  the  purity  of  white,  and 
is  even  more  difficult  to  determine  in  the  show  room  because 
the  light  is  often  poor.  In  a  good  light,  the  sheen,  or  the  pur- 
ple bars,  or  the  bronze,  each  show  distinctly. 


306  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

The  purple  has  been  said  to  be  due  to  an  excess  of  green 
color  pigment.  To  overcome  the  defect,  it  was  for  many  years 
a  common  practice  never  to  mate  two  lustrous,  greenish  birds 
together,  but  to  always  mate  a  lustrous  greenish  male  to  a  dull 
black  female,  or  vice  versa,  that  an  excess  of  green  sheen  might 
not  be  produced. 

Mr.  Charles  H.  Hubbard,  who  in  recent  years  has  produced 
as  deep  a  green  lustre  in  his  Black  Orpingtons  as  has  been 
seen  in  America,  mated  bright,  beetle-green  birds  together.  He 
held  that  purple  was  due  to  improper  feather  growth,  and  it  is 
certain  a  pure  colored  bird  in  the  hands  of  a  novice  may  moult 
in  a  plumage  full  of  purple  bars,  and  chicks  of  well-bred  stock 
may  be  grown  full  of  purple  and  white  as  a  result  of  improper 
care. 

Mr.  Hubbard  writes,  in  his  book,  "Poultry  Secrets,"  on  mat- 
ing to  produce  sheen  in  Blacks,  as  follows : 

"The  purple  barring  comes  more  from  improper  care  and 
feeding  than  from  the  mating.  *  *  *  I  can  mate  the  two 
high  sheens  together  and  be  free  from  anv  red  in  hackle     *    * 

"The  method  I  use  in  mating  Black  Orpingtons  to  get  the 
beautiful  green  plumage  in  both  cockerels  and  pullets  is  to 
mate  a  male  and  female  that  have  the  same  shade  of  green,  or 
as  nearly  as  possible  to  match  them.  This  will  produce  cock- 
erels and  pullets  of  the  beautiful  green  sheen  from  a  single 
mating-. 

"I  learned  to  mate  Black  Orpingtons  by  killing  a  pair  of 
crows ;  a  male  and  a  female.  I  noticed  that  the  plumage  of  the 
two  birds  was  exactlv  the  same  shade  of  green.  You  could  not 
pick  the  male  from  the  female  in  regard  to  color.  This  proved 
to  me  that  nature  never  intended  that  a  high  green  sheen  male 
should  be  mated  to  a  dull  black  female,  but  that  the  plumage 
of  the  male  and  female  should  be  of  the  same  shade.  T  have 
never  yet  found  purple  barring  on  crows'  feathers.  This  also 
proves  that  the  purple  barring  does  not  come  from  mating  a 
high  sheen  male  to  a  high  sheen  female.  If  it  did,  I  would  have 
found  barring  in  the  plumage  of  the  crows. 

"Then  I  went  to  work  and  experimented  on  the  different 
methods  of  caring  and  feeding  and  T  proved  to  my  own  satis- 
faction that  75  per  cent  of  the  purple  barring  in  black  plumage 
is  caused  by  improper  care  and  feeding,  which  causes  a  stunt 
of  feather  growth." 

Where  green  birds  of  both  sexes  cannot  be  secured,  see  to 
it  that  the  surface  of  the  male  is  green,  for  the  male  exerts  the 
most  influence  on  the  color  of  the  progeny.     (F.  L.  P.) 


PART  FOUR. 

WYANDOTTES  FOR  AND  IN  THE 
SHOW  ROOM 


SECTION   I.— AN   EXPLANATION   OF   THE   JUDGE'S 
PART  IN  THE  SHOW  ROOM. 


Chapter  I.       THE  SCALE  OF  POINTS. 
Chapter  II.      JUDGING  AMERICAN  BREEDS. 
Chapter  III.    JUDGING  WYANDOTTES. 

SECTION  II.— THE   EXHIBITOR'S   PART. 

Chapter  I.       THE    EXAMINATION    OF    CANDL 
DATES  FOR  SHOW  HONORS. 

Chapter  IL      CONDITIONING  FOWLS  FOR  THE 
SHOW. 

Chapter  III.    SHIPPING  TO  THE  SHOW. 

Chapter  IV.    CARE  IN  THE  SHOW  ROOM. 

Chapter  V.      RETURNING  FROM  THE  SHOW. 

Chapter  VI.    CARE     OF     BIRDS      AFTER     THE 
SHOW. 


308  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

SECTION    I. 

EXPLANATION  OF  THE  JUDGE'S  PART 

CHAPTER  I. 
STANDARD  SCALE  OF  POINTS. 

THOROUGHBRED  races  of  horses,  cattle,  sheep  and 
swine,  as  well  as  domesticated  breeds  of  dogs,  are  meas- 
ured in  value  by  a  fixed  scale  of  points  formulated  for 
each  breed  and,  with  poultry,  applicable  to  each  breed  even  to 
every  variety. 

The  American  Standard  of  Perfection  describes  the  ideal 
specimen  in  shape  and  color  and  this  description  is  the  guide 
for  the  breeder,  exhibitor  and  judge.  It  is  the  supreme  law 
which  controls  all  judges  of  Standard-bred  poultry  in  making 
their  decisions  between  contesting  specimens  in  the  show  room 
or  the  breeders'  yards. 

All  breeds  of  poultry  must  be  bred  to  the  standards  formu- 
lated by  the  American  Poultry  Association  and  published  in 
the  American  Standard  of  Perfection,  for  without  such  Stand- 
ards advancement  in  the  art  of  breeding  poultry  would  have 
been  impossible. 

First  Poultry  Standard  Published  in  1865. — The  history  of 
standard-making  in  the  poultry  world  would  make  a  long 
chapter,  for  it  dates  as  far  back  as  1865,  when  the  first  "Stand- 
ard of  Excellence"  was  compiled  in  England.  The  late  Lewis 
Wright,  one  of  the  most  thorough  students  of  the  poultry 
problems,  as  well  as  the  most  successful  writer  on  pouUry 
topics  in  Great  Britain,  in  his  authoritative  "Book  of  Poultry." 
comments  on  the  first  Standard  as  follows  : 

"About  1865  a  poultry  club  was  formed  in  England,  l)ut  it 
did  not  secure  many  adherents  and  was  speedily  wrecked  by 
the  personal  animosity  which  developed  between  two  or  three 
of  its  members.  But  it  issued  a  description  of  the  recognized 
breeds,  with  numerical  values  for  the  points,  under  the  title  of 
"Standard  of  Excellence,"  which  was  a  landmark  in  the  judg- 
ing of  poultry.     In  spite  of  many  faults,  it  embodied  the  prin- 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  309 

ciple  that  fowls  ought  to  be  bred  to  definite  points  and  judged 
by  them  and  that  the  points  could  be  and  ought  to  be  defined. 
This  was  a  great  idea  and  a  great  service,  though  the  first 
clubs  existence  was  brief  and  its  Standard  very  crude.  The 
scale  of  points  only  added  up  to  a  total  of  fifteen,  through  all 
the  breeds,  which  quite  shut  out  the  modern  system  of  "cut- 
ting" a  portion  off  for  defects;  and  in  the  descriptions  them- 
selves there  were  several  errors — such  as  attributing  red  eyes 
to  Malays — which,  however,  could  scarcely  be  avoided  at  that 
early  period.  The  existing  judges  ostentatiously  declined  to 
be  bound  by  this  Standard,  which  had,  in  fact,  no  authority  ; 
yet,  nevertheless,  its  definitions  or  descriptions  undoubtedly 
had  great  influence  in  bringing  about  greater  uniformity  of 
type  and  more  general  acceptance  of  a  real  type  in  many 
breeds." 

A.  M.  Halstead,  Rye,  N.  Y.,  issued  a  reprint  of  this  English 
Standard  in  1867,  but  it  did  not  prove  satisfactory  to  Amer- 
ican poultry  breeders.  A  year  before  the  above  made  its 
appearance,  I.  K.  Felch,  Natick,  Mass.,  devised  a  Standard  and 
Score  Card,  with  a  scale  of  points,  for  Light  Brahmas,  that 
proved  to  be  the  forerunner  of  an  American  Standard  of  Ex- 
cellence. Mr.  Felch  claims  that  his  score  card  was  the  first 
to  be  used  in  America. 

The  Lockwood  Standard,  adopted  in  New  York  City  in 
1871,  was  the  result  of  the  embryonic  scale  of  points  on  Mr. 
Felch's  first  score  card,  embodying  his  valuation  for  shape  and 
color,  but  the  Felch  scale  was  raised  to  100  points  and,  instead 
of  four  sections,  eleven  were  allotted  to  each  breed.  The  bu^k 
of  this  Lockwood  Standard  was  made  up  from  the  English 
Standard,  however.  A.  M.  Halstead,  in  the  fall  of  1871,  also 
published  an  American  Standard  of  Excellence,  but  neither  of 
these  Standards  proved  satisfactory. 

It  was  not  until  the  American  Poultry  Association  was 
organized,  February  15,  1873,  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  that  the  work 
of  compiling  a  Standard  of  Excellence  which  would  meet  with 
the  approval  of  American  breeders  of  pure  bred  poultry  was 
begun. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  reorganized  American  Poultry  Asso- 
ciation, held  at  Buffalo.  N.  Y.,  January  15,  1874,  the  first  Amer- 
ican Standard  of  Excellence  was  adopted.  This  standard  con- 
sisted of  102  pages.  At  the  third  annual  meeting  of  the  Amer- 
ican Poultry  Association,  held  at  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  January  21, 
1875,  a  larger  and  more  complete  Standard  was  adopted,  con- 


310  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

taining  descriptions  of  seventy-nine  varieties  of  fowls,  and 
consisting  of  243  pages.  Revisions  of  this  Standard  of  Excel- 
lence were  made  at  Chicago,  1876,  Buffalo,  1877,  and  Portland, 
Maine,  1878.  The  1878  edition  remained  unchanged  for  many 
years,  as  did  the  Scale  of  Points.  Further  revisions  of  more  or 
less  importance  were  made  at  Indianapolis,  1888,  Buffalo,  1889, 
and  Chicago,  1893,  but  the  most  thorough  revision  of  the 
Standard  occurred  at  Fishers  Island,  N.  Y.,  in  1897,  when 
many  important  changes  were  made,  among  them  being  the 
separation  of  the  shape  and  color  descriptions  to  the  breed  it 
belonged  to.  "Typical  Carriage"  was  substituted  for  "Symme- 
try" in  the  Scale  of  Points.  This  Standard  was  adopted  at 
the  twenty-second  annual  meeting  of  the  American  Poultry 
Association,  held  at  Boston,  Mass.,  January,  1898.  Additions 
to  this  Standard  were  made  at  Chicago,  1901,  Charleston,  S.  C, 
and  Hagerstown,  Md.,  in  1902.  But  the  above  revisions,  as 
well  as  all  subsequent  ones,  did  not  affect  the  Scale  of  Points. 

FIRST  SCALE  OF  POINTS. 

The  first  Scale  of  Points  printed  were  those  in  the  Hal- 
stead  Standard  of  1867.  They  were  called  "Points  in  Brah- 
mas,"  "Cochins,"  "Dorkings"  and  other  breeds  in  vogue  at 
that  time.  As  no  Plymouth  Rocks  or  Wyandottes  were  rec- 
ognized by  the  Standard  at  that  time,  we  reproduce  below  the 
Scale  of  Points  given  for  "Light  Brahmas"  : 

Points  in  Brahmas, 

Size 3 

Color    4 

Head  and  Comb 1 

Wings,  Primaries  well  tucked  under  Secondaries.  .  1 

Legs  and  Feathering,  ditto 1 

Flufif 1 

Symmetry   2 

Condition    2 

15 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  311 

For  White  Leghorns  the  Halstead  Scale  of  Points  ran  as 
follows: 

Points  in  White  Leghorns,  Single  and  Rose  Combed. 

Comb   2 

Face  and  Ear-lobe 3 

Purity  of  Plumage   3 

Size    3 

Symmetry 2 

Condition    2 

It  is  significant  to  note  that  breeders  of  Brahmas  fifty  years 
ago  placed  the  paramount  value  in  their  Scale  of  Points  on  size 
and  color,  while  the  Leghorn  fanciers  of  that  time  went  even 
further  in  making  color,  face  and  lobes,  and  size  of  the  greatest 
valuation  in  their  Scale  of  Points,  symmetry  and  condition 
playing  minor  roles  in  the  scale. 

The  above  early,  albeit  crude,  measures  of  value  given  to 
the  various  breeds  by  breeders  of  a  half  century  ago  indicate 
quite  clearly,  however,  that  their  idea  of  valuation  of  points  in 
the  respective  breeds  was  founded  on  what  they  deemed  the 
salient  features,  and  it  seems  to  us  that  the  foundation  was  a 
good  one. 

First  Scale  of  Points  in  the  American  Class. — In  the  Amer- 
ican Standard  of  Excellence,  as  revised  by  the  United  Poultry 
Fanciers  of  America,  convened  under  the  auspices  of  the  Amer- 
ican Poultry  Association,  at  their  convention  held  in  Buffalo, 
N.  Y.,  January  15,  1874,  the  first  standard  description  of  Barred 
Plymouth  Rocks  is  printed,  with  the  following  Scale  of  Points : 

Symmetry 20 

Size 20 

Color  of  Plumage  25 

Head    5 

Comb    10 

Tail 5 

Leg 5 

Condition    10 

100 


312  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Size  played  an  important  role  in  the  early  days  of  the 
standard-bred  fowl  industry,  judging  by  the  instructions  to 
judges  found  in  the  1874  Standard,  as  the  following  extracts 
will  prove : 

"In  figuring  size  or  weight,  the  fowls  which  shall  be  com- 
paratively small  in  proportion  to  a  weight  that  indicates  exces- 
sive fat  shall  be  estimated  in  the  same  ratio  as  those  which 
present  large  size  and  are  deficient  in  weight  compared  to  size." 

"Judges  must  in  all  cases  make  a  pro  rata  reduction  for 
any  fractional  part  of  a  pound  that  a  specimen  falls  short  of 
the  largest  or  Standard  bird." 

In  the  Asiatic  class,  the  specimen  largest  in  size  and  weight 
was  deemed  the  perfect  specimen  and  allowed  full  number  of 
points  in  size  and  weight,  provided  always  that  the  cocks  did 
not  weigh  less  than  eleven  pounds,  cockerels  less  than  ten 
pounds,  hens  less  than  ten  pounds,  and  pullets  less  than  eight 
pounds,  under  the  1874  Standard  Scale  of  Points.  As  an  illus- 
tration : 

"When  the  largest  cock  specimen  in  size  and  weight  weighs 
thirteen  pounds  or  more,  the  remaining  specimens  shall  be 
figured  comparatively,  losing  two  points  for  every  pound  they 
fall  short  of  the  weight  of  the  per  Standard  specimen.  When 
the  largest  cock  weighs  under  thirteen  pounds,  and  not  less 
than  twelve  pounds,  then  the  remaining  specimens  shall  lose 
four  points  for  every  pound  they  fall  short  of  the  weight  of 
said  best  or  Standard  specimen." 

The  same  rule  was  applied  to  Asiatic  cockerels,  hens  and 
pullets,  and  all  judges  in  other  classes  were  instructed  to  first 
establish  a  corresponding  size  and  weight  that  shall  apply  to 
their  class  and  shall  be  in  keeping  with  the  spirit  of  the  fore- 
going. 


MODERN    SCALE   OF   POINTS    FOR   WYANDOTTES. 
ROCKS. 

But  what  Wyandotte  breeders  are  interested  in  today  is 
the  valuation  placed  on  their  breed  by  the  American  Stand- 
ard of  Perfection.  In  1888  the  Scale  of  Points  for  the  varieties 
of  Wyandottes  then  recognized  allotted  to  the  dififerent  sec- 
tions relative  valuation  as  indicated : 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  313 

Symmetry 8 

Weight    6 

Condition 6 

Head — Shape  3,  Color  3 6 

Comb   8 

Wattles  and  Ear- Lobes 6 

Neck — Shape  4,  Color  6 10 

Back — Shape  4,  Color  4 8 

Breast — Shape  5,  Color  5 10 

Body  and  Fluff — Shape  5,  Color  3 8 

Wings — Shape  4,  Color  4 8 

Tail— Shape  4,  Color  4 8 

Legs  and  Toes 8 

100 

This  scale  of  points  applied  to  all  varieties  in  the  Amer- 
ican class.  Wyandotte  breeders  of  today  will  note  that  the 
valuations  given  placed  too  low  a  value  on  color  of  plum- 
age, only  26  points  being  designated  to  this  important  feature. 
But  the  Scale  of  Points  in  the  1898  Standard  was  practically 
the  same,  with  the  exception  that  "Typical  Carriage"  supple- 
mented "Symmetry."  In  the  Scale  of  Points  of  the  1910 
Standard  we  find  some  important  changes.  Twenty-eight 
points  are  allotted  to  color  of  plumage  and  the  shape  of  the 
important  body  sections  gains  three  points.  Weight  counts 
less  and  failure  to  approach  Standard  weight  is  more  severely 
penalized.  By  the  allotment  it  will  be  seen  that  more  credit 
for  merit  was  accorded  to  the  sections  which  were  in  most 
varieties  the  most  difficult  to  breed.  Wyandottes  were  now 
recognized  in  eight  different  colors  and  color  patterns,  or  six 
varieties,  three  of  which  were  comparatively  new.  The  color 
patterns  of  two  of  these  were  admittedly  difficult  to  produce, 
especially  at  that  stage  of  development. 

1910  Scale  of  Points. 

Symmetry 4 

Weight    4 

Condition    4 

Comb   8 

Head— Shape  2,  Color  2 4 

Beak— Shape  2,  Color  2 4 


314  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Eyes — Shape  2,  Color  2 4 

Wattles  and  Ear-Lobes — Shape  2,  Color  3 5 

Neck— Shape  3,  Color  5 8 

Wings — Shape  4,  Color  5 9 

Back — Shape  6,  Color  5 11 

Tail — Shape  5,  Color  5 10 

Breast — Shape  6,  Color  5 11 

Body  and  Fluff — Shape  5,  Color  3 8 

Legs  and  Toes — Shape  3,  Color  3 6 

100 
INSTRUCTIONS  TO  JUDGES. 

Under  the  above  heading,  on  page  35  of  the  American 
Standard  of  Perfection,  the  following  paragraph  instructs 
judges,  as  well  as  breeders  and  exhibitors,  how  to  apply  the 
"Scale  of  Points" : 

"Merit:  The  merit  of  specimens  shall  be  determined  by  a 
careful  examination  of  all  sections  in  the  "Scale  of  Points," 
beginning  with  symmetry  and  continuing  through  the  list,  de- 
ducting from  the  full  value  of  each  section  of  a  perfect  bird 
for  such  defects  as  are  found  in  the  specimen.  Judges  must 
familiarize  themselves  with  the  scale  of  points  of  each  breed 
they  are  to  pass  upon,  to  intelligently  award  prizes.  And  it 
must  be  understood  that  no  more  and  no  less  value  can  be 
placed  on  any  section  than  is  provided  for  in  the  "Scale  of 
Points."  And  it  shall  be  further  understood  that  this  system 
must  be  applied  whether  judged  by  score  card  or  comparison. 
The  minimum  cut  for  any  section  shall  be  one-fourth  of  one 
point." 

On  page  41,  under  "Cutting  for  Defects,"  the  Standard 
reads : 

"These  cuts  should  not  be  confused  with  nor  take  prece- 
dence over  the  valuation  given  each  section  in  the  Scale  of 
Points  of  all  varieties." 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  all  of  the  largest  shows  are  judged 
by  comparison  today,  the  above  paragraph  is  of  greater  im- 
portance than  the  succeeding  ones,  giving  cuts  to  be  made  in 
the  various  sections.  In  other  words,  the  "Scale  of  Points"  is  the 
true  measure  of  value  which  the  judge  must  apply  when  select- 
ing the  winners  in  the  Wyandotte  classes  in  the  showroom 
or  in  the  breeders'  yards.  In  all  sections,  except  weight  and 
condition,  the  relative  value  of  shape  and  color  are  clearly 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  315 

defined  and,  if  adhered  to,  will  determine  the  ratings  of  the 
competing  specimens  correctly  as  a  rule.  But  the  size  or 
weight  and  condition  of  an  exhibition  specimen  often  decide 
its  standing  among  the  winners  in  the  show-room,  and  great 
care  must  be  exercised  by  the  judge  when  handling  birds  that 
appear  large  and  look  in  the  pink  of  condition. 

Size  is  a  relative  term,  so  when  two  specimens  are  com- 
pared the  one  that  apparently  looks  the  larger  will  often  win, 
other  points  being  equal.  But,  applying  the  weight  clause  is 
the  safest  rule  in  all  such  decisions. 

It  is  also  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  a  Wyandotte  when 
over  standard  weight,  though  larger  in  size,  may  be  coarser  in 
type.  Size  and  overweight  has  a  tendency  to  destroy  the  type 
by  making  the  specimen  coarser.  In  defining  Standard  size, 
page  39  of  the  present  Standard  of  Perfection  reads : 

"In  determining  size,  the  judge  shall  decide  by  comparing 
the  specimens  in  competition,  with  due  regard  to  weight  in  all 
breeds  and  varieties,  where  weight  is  required  by  the  Stand- 
ard. When  a  bird  fails  to  attain,  or  in  case  it  exceeds,  the 
size  proportionate  with  the  type  or  shape,  it  must  be  dis- 
counted quite  severely." 

Symmetry  is  valued  at  four  points  in  the  Scale,  so  a  bird 
approximately  closely  the  Standard  ideal  can  be  rated  100 
per  cent  or  the  full  four  points  of  value  in  the  Scale  of  Points, 
which  will  make  the  ratings  of  less  typical  specimens  a  mat- 
ter of  comparative  percentages.  But  in  comparison  judging 
today,  as  in  the  past,  symmetry  is  rarely,  if  ever,  computed 
by  a  Scale  of  Points.  Where  one  specimen  which  is  almost 
identical  with  another  in  typical  shape  or  symmetry,  has  one 
minor  shape  defect  only,  as  for  instance,  a  head  too  narrow, 
or  a  comb  too  large  for  a  Wyandotte,  that  defect  should  be 
discounted  under  head  points,  as  are  all  minor  or  serious 
faults  in  the  different  sections,  and  the  cuts  to  be  made  when 
the  score  card  is  applied  should  comply  with  the  rules  given 
in  the  Standard  of  Perfection  under  "Cutting  for  Defect." 

Condition,  like  symmetry,  is  valued  at  four  points,  and  is 
equally  difficult  of  application  when  measured  by  the  "Scale 
of  Point"  valuation,  as  no  definite  rule  to  determine  the  rela- 
tive value  of  condition  in  competing  specimens  can  be  laid 
down,  for  it  is  a  duty  of  the  judge  to  determine  this  matter. 
The  Standard  defines  Condition  as  follows :  "The  state  of 
a  fowl  as  regards  health,  cleanliness  and  order  of  plumage." 
Frosted  combs,  broken  feathers  and  scaly  legs  are  discounted 


316  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

in  their  respective  sections,  and  handicap  seriously  the  speci- 
men that  may  be  in  good  health  and  feather  otherwise ;  rough 
and  soiled  plumage,  if  caused  by  poor  washing  and  handling, 
handicaps  an  otherwise  fine  specimen  severely,  but  if  the 
plumage  of  a  well-conditioned  bird  becomes  soiled  in  the  show 
pen,  due  allowance  must  be  made  by  the  judge. 

The  relative  values  of  color  and  shape  in  the  neck,  back, 
wing  and  breast  sections,  given  in  the  1915  Standard,  are  more 
just  and  equitable  than  those  in  the  older  Standards,  as  color 
in  parti-colored  Wyandottes  is  of  paramount  importance, 
especially  in  Silver  Penciled  and  Partridge,  varieties  that  have 
run  less  true  to  shape  requirements  than  the  Silver  and  White, 
due  to  the  extreme  difficulties  experienced  by  breeders  in  per- 
fecting the  penciled  feather  pattern  demanded  by  the  Standard. 
To  a  certain  extent,  shape  had  to  be  sacrificed  in  order  to 
obtain  the  desired  Standard  color  markings.  It  is,  therefore, 
necessary  to  place  as  high  a  valuation  on  these  color  sections 
as  possible  in  order  to  protect  the  male  or  female  specimens 
which  show  superior  color  markings,  but  that  fail  somewhat 
in  the  shape  of  difl'erent  sections.  (J.  H.  D.) 


CHAPTER  II. 


JUDGING  AMERICAN  BREEDS. 

The  philosophy  of  judging  Standard  breeds  of  poultry  is 
the  same  as  that  which  must  apply  for  all  other  animate  or 
inanimate  exhibits  found  in  nature  or  produced  by  the  art 
and  skill  of  man,  for  it  is  based  on  the  knowledge  which 
governs  the  valuation  of  all  such  matter  examined,  or  speci- 
mens exhibited.  In  other  words,  the  Standard-bred  specimen 
in  the  yard  of  the  breeder,  or  in  the  show  pen  of  the  exhibitor, 
is  the  matter  to  be  considered  by  the  mind  of  the  judge.  And 
the  mind  of  the  poultry  judge  is  governed  by  the  American 
Standard  of  Perfection,  which  is  the  only  safe  guide  for  the 
breeder,  exhibitor  and  judge  in  selecting  breeding  or  exhibition 
specimens.  This  Standard  is  the  law  which  every  judge  must 
obey. 

The  fads  of  breeders  and  exhibitors  must  be  ignored  by 
the  judge,  for  no  conscientious  adjudicator  of  live  stock  is  or 
ever  will  be  a  faddist.     Fads  of  any  description  are  short-lived. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  317 

Furthermore,  there  are  the  dangers  of  the  advanced  types  in 
certain  popular  breeds  or  varieties  to  carefully  guard  against. 
They  may  seem  to  be  in  advance  of  the  present  Standard  for 
the  special  variety  in  some  one  section  of  color  marking  which 
has  been  produced  by  skillful  and  progressive  breeding,  and 
beautiful  as  such  may  look  to  the  producer  and  other  admirers 
of  this  particular  variety,  they  cannot  be  justly  considered  by 
an  American  Poultry  Association  judge  until  they  have  been 
recognized,  authorized  and  printed  in  the  edition  of  the  Amer- 
ican Standard  of  Perfection  that  is  in  force  at  the  time  of 
judging. 

To  recognize  any  one  particular  so-called  advanced  section 
is  to  become  a  slave  to  a  single  idea,  for  the  poultry  judge 
with  a  fad  is  usually  the  one  who  ignores  the  Standard  by  plac- 
ing too  much  valuation  on  some  particular  section  in  one  speci- 
men and  overlooking  the  general  all-around  excellencies  of  the 
competing  specimens. 

With  some  judges  (as  an  outstanding  example)  under- 
barring  is  a  dangerous  fad,  one  that  is  shared  by  breeders  not 
infrequently.  A  Barred  Plymouth  Rock,  beautiful  in  surface 
color,  will  often  be  passed  because  the  undercolor  is  not  barred 
strongly  and  deeply  down  to  the  skin,  notwithstanding  the  fact 
that  deficient  underbarring  and  lighter,  less  sharply  defined 
barring  in  the  undercolor  is  discounted  from  onehalf  point  to 
one  and  one-half  points  only. 

Exhibitors  or  judges  who  cultivate  this  special  fondness  for 
superior  development  in  any  one  section  of  a  breed  or  variety 
will  sooner  or  later  realize  their  mistake  ;  for  it  is  the  exhibitor 
and  judge  that  stick  to  the  Standard,  obey  its  laws  and  require- 
ments, who  will  win  out  in  the  short  or  long  run  always. 

The  Standard  Is  the  Judge's  Guide. — The  American  Stand- 
ard of  Perfection  describes  the  shape  and  color  sections  in  each 
variety  of  all  recognized  breeds  of  poultry,  gives  the  general 
and  specific  disqualifications  for  which  exhibition  specimens 
are  to  be  disqualified  by  the  judges,  defines  under  "Instruc- 
tions to  Judges"  the  most  important  laws  which  govern  the 
selection  of  prize  winners,  while  under  "Cutting  for  Defects" 
and  "In  Applying  the  Comparison  System,"  rules  are  laid 
down  for  the  judge's  guidance  when  examining  and  adjudi- 
cating all  specimens  in  whatever  classes  they  may  be  as- 
signed to. 

The  foundation  of  American  poultry  culture  rests  upon  the 
American    Standard   of   Perfection   and    every   poultry   judge 


318  AMERICAN  POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

should  bear  this  in  mind.  The  Standard  is  supreme  law, 
first,  last  and  all  the  time.  The  breeder,  exhibitor  or  judge 
who  fails  to  recognize  it  as  such  destroys  whatever  chances  he 
may  have  to  make  good. 

Judging  by  the  Standard. — The  American  Standard  of  Per- 
fection being  the  law,  as  well  as  the  guide,  for  the  poultry 
judge,  he  must  be  thoroughly  posted  on  its  requirements  be- 
fore attempting  to  adjudicate  in  any  classes  at  a  poultry  exhi- 
bition. A  thorough  study  of  the  rules  which  govern  judging 
is  of  the  greatest  importance,  as  more  protests  against  awards 
are  based  on  the  failure  to  observe  these  rules  than  on  errors  of 
judgment.  Never  overlook  a  disqualification  of  any  kind,  no 
matter  how  trivial  it  may  be,  or  how  much  the  mind  rebels 
against  throwing  out  a  surpassingly  fine  bird.  The  judge  sim- 
ply has  to  do  it  or  invite  protest.  The  Standard  may  seem 
wrong  to  him,  but  that  should  make  no  difference,  as  all  the 
specimens  entered  in  his  classes  have,  or  should  have,  been 
selected  by  the  exhibitors  according  to  the  same  Standard. 
The  judge  has  no  right  to  disregard  any  of  its  rules  if  he  de- 
sires to  remain  in  good  standing  in  his  profession. 

Another  important  point,  however,  and  one  that  must  never 
be  overlooked  is:  The  Standard  permits  the  judge  to  give 
the  benefit  of  any  doubt  he  may  have  in  his  mind  to  the  bird. 
A  superior  specimen,  the  best  in  its  class,  may  have  some 
defect  so  near  to  the  disqualifying  limit  that  an  over-zealous 
judge  will  exercise  arbitrary  powers  and  disqualify  the  bird. 
This  is  placing  a  radical  or  literal  construction  on  the  laws 
laid  down  by  the  Standard  certainly  not  intended  by  its  fram- 
ers.  A  judge  must  exercise  his  common  sense  in  interpreting 
all  such  laws.  To  throw  out  the  gem  in  any  class  because  a 
pinhead  spot  of  black  or  red  appears  in  a  white  feather  is 
both  suicidal  to  the  breed  or  variety  and  the  judge. 

Lastly,  a  judge  should  follow  Davy  Crockett's  advice — 
"Be  sure  you're  right,  then  go  ahead" — when  judging  poultry 
at  exhibitions.  Under  any  circumstances  he  must  make  his 
decisions  without  fear  or  favor  and  care  naught  for  what 
exhibitors  may  say.  A  judge  is  an  individual  having  but  one 
opinion.  That  one  he  should  adhere  to.  Others  may  have 
different  ones,  but  that  need  not  influence  him  in  the  least. 
It  is,  however,  his  duty  toward  exhibitors  that  may  be  pres- 
ent and  who  courteously  ask  him  for  explanations  of  his 
awards  to  satisfy  them.  It  is  well  to  remember  that  many 
exhibitors  are  as  well  posted  on  the  merits  of  the  birds  entered 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  319 

at  the  shows  as  the  judge  himself,  and  some  may  know  even 
better  the  strong  points  of  the  best  birds.  Such  exhibitors 
are  not  kickers,  as  a  rule,  and  it  benefits  a  judge  to  associate 
with  them  after  the  show  is  over. 

First  Impressions  Are  Best.- — First  impressions  of  any 
specimen  are  usually  the  most  reliable,  and  other  things  being 
equal  will  govern  final  decisions  of  the  thoroughly  competent 
judge,  one  who  is  thoroughly  "up"  on  the  breeds  or  varieties 
he  is  called  to  adjudicate  and  no  other  should  ever  be  engaged. 

The  real  judge  is  one  who — plus  training  and  experience- 
has  a  natural  instinct  for  discerning  the  best,  which  a  noted 
English  authority  claims  is  a  quality  given  to  but  few  men 
and  fewer  women,  adding:  "Well  do  I  remember  many  years 
ago  one  such  man,  though  there  have  been  several  others,  but  I 
mention  him  because  he  seldom  acted  as  judge,  although  one 
of  the  best  I  ever  knew.  Put  before  him  a  dozen  birds  or 
animals  of  any  breed,  even  though  he  had  never  seen  the  like 
before,  and  he  would  assuredly  pick  the  winners,  placing  them 
in  correct  order.  He  had  the  instinctive  capacity  which  en- 
abled him  to  gauge  the  type  and  idealize  it." 

This  bears  out  the  adage :  "Judges  are  born — not  made," 
but  which  does  not  imply  that  training  and  experience  are 
not  required,  for  without  these  valuable  assets,  no  man  should 
accept  the  position  of  judge  of  important  classes  at  any  exhi- 
bition of  poultry. 

It  is  the  experienced  eye  of  the  judge  that  selects,  often 
at  first  glance,  the  bird  which  stands  out  among  all  the  rest 
and  this  one  and  the  others  must  be  measured  by  the  Standard 
ideal  as  it  exists  in  the  mind  of  the  judge,  provided  on  closer 
inspection  no  serious  defects  are  discovered,  which  would 
debar  them  from  winning.  We  call  attention  to  this  because 
some  good  breeders,  who  have  attempted  to  pass  judgment 
on  poultry  in  the  show  room,  have  failed  to  look  at  the  good 
points  of  the  fowl  but  have  started  right  ofif  hunting  for 
defects.  They  wanted  all  that  was  bad  and  overlooked  all 
that  was  good  in  the  birds. 

As  an  illustration,  we  will  cite  the  case  of  an  old  and  noted 
breeder  who  did  not  think  the  judge  placed  his  Bufif  Leghorn 
cockerels  correctly,  contending  that  the  second  and  third  prize 
birds  were  better  than  his  first,  just  because  the  latter  had  a 
tinge  of  bluish-gray  in  the  undercolor  of  the  back.  Yet  this 
cockerel  was  far  superior  in  surface  color  and  shape  to  the 
other  two.     All  the  owner  could  see  was  one  little  hidden 


320  AMERICAN   POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

defect  in  color.  He  forgot  all  about  the  other  fine  qualities  of 
the  winning  cockerel.  He  judged  not  by  first  impressions,  but 
with  a  mania  for  discovering  imperfections. 

A  poultry  judge  should  be  an  optimist  always,  see  the 
good  and  then  discount  the  bad  points  of  a  specimen.  He 
must  bear  in  mind  that  there  are  twelve  sections  for  shape 
and  nearly  as  many  for  color,  besides  weight  and  condition, 
which  must  figure  in  the  complete  and  final  examination  of 
every  specimen.  However,  in  a  well  finished  and  matured 
specimen,  typical  shape  is  readily  seen  at  a  glance,  in  fact  a 
real  top-notcher  stands  out  from  the  rest.  Other  things  being 
equal,  such  a  bird  will  win. 

Yet  it  may  so  happen  that  an  ideal  bird  in  type  and  size 
is  handicapped  by  a  bad  comb,  which,  with  the  faddist  judge, 
may  result  in  its  being  passed  by  without  further  examination 
or  patient  consideration  of  its  superior  merits  in  both  shape 
and  color.  And  therein  lies  the  chief  danger  in  awarding 
prizes  at  a  poultry  show,  for  this  one  glaring  defect  obscures 
the  vision  of  the  judge  who  happens  to  be  a  confirmed  defect 
hunter,  at  the  same  time  being  oblivious  to  the  existence  of 
the  Standard  which  describes  the  entire  bird,  even  to  placing  a 
limit  upon  penalties  for  defects. 

General  Disqualifications. — The  American  Standard  of 
Perfection,  under  "General  Disqualifications,"  describes  and 
enumerates  the  defects  which  will  disqualify  the  specimens  on 
which  they  are  discovered  by  the  judge.  In  most  instances 
the  descriptions  of  such  disqualifying  defects  are  defined  in 
clear  and  unmistakable  language,  but  in  several  others  there 
is  considerable  room  for  doubt,  requiring  intelligent  interpreta- 
tion and  generous  application  by  the  judge. 

For  instance,  where  it  reads :  "In  varieties  where  positive 
white  in  ear-lobes  is  a  disqualification,  judges  shall  disqualify 
for  unmistakable  evidence  of  an  attempt  to  remove  the  de- 
fect." The  words  "unmistakable  evidence"  should  be  carefully 
weighed  before  proceeding  to  disqualify  a  specimen,  as  the 
burden  of  proof  rests  with  a  judge,  should  an  exhibitor 
demand  an  explanation  in  the  event  of  having  a  specimen 
disqualified  for  removal  of  white  from  the  lobes.  To  be  on 
the  safe  side,  the  specimen  should  be  given  the  benefit  of  all 
reasonable  doubt. 

But  there  is  another  disqualification  clause  which  is  even 
more  delicate  of  adjustment,  as  it  is  more  difficult  of  inter- 
pretation, and  that  is:   "Faking  in  any  manner  shall  disqualify 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED   BOOK  321 

the  Specimen."  This  will  bring  up  the  perennial  query,  "What 
constitutes  faking-?" 

To  define  "faking"  in  terms  that  will  prove  satisfactory  to 
all  good  poultry  breeders  is  a  difficult  matter;  as  the  dividing 
line  between  real  faking,  such  as  bleaching  or  coloring  of  the 
plumage,  trimming  of  combs,  pulling  feathers  from  shanks  of 
clean-legged  breeds,  and  the  methods  of  preparing  birds  for 
the  show  room,  is  a  very  narrow  one,  especially  when  it  is 
considered  legitimate  to  pluck  many  feathers  from  a  parti- 
colored specimen  in  order  to  bring  out  the  color  markings  more 
distinctly  and  efi^ectively,  or  to  fluff  up  the  feathers  of  a 
Cochin,  pull  tails  of  a  Cochin  bantam  a  certain  length  of  time 
prior  to  a  show,  and  a  few  other  little  aids  or  "tricks  of  the 
trade"  in  fixing  up  exhibition  specimens.  It  will  keep  the 
judge  guessing  just  where  to  draw  the  line  in  most  of  the 
instances  stated  above. 

However,  the  disqualifying  clause  that  has  caused  judges 
more  trouble  and  annoyance  than  all  others  in  the  past  reads : 
"In  all  breeds  required  to  have  unfeathered  shanks,  any  feather, 
or  feathers,  stubs  or  down  on  shanks,  feet  or  toes ;  or  unmis- 
takable indication  of  feathers,  stubs  or  down  having  been 
plucked  from  same."  The  difficult  part  the  judge  must  play 
is  in  determining  whether  feathers  have  been  plucked  from 
the  shanks.  The  defect-finding  judge  will  do  the  miscroscopic 
act  in  order  to  discover  the  hole  or  incipient  stub.  The  experi- 
enced judge  will  obey  the  Standard  admonition  at  the  foot  of 
the  rule  for  "General  Disqualifications,"  which  reads :  "Under 
all  disqualifying  clauses,  the  specimen  shall  have  the  benefit 
of  the  doubt."  If  the  naked  eye  of  the  judge  cannot  detect 
a  stub  or  "unmistakable  evidence  of  feathers  having  been 
plucked,"  no  magnifying  lenses  or  pen  knives  need  be  resorted 
to  in  order  to  discover  a  puny  stub  located  somewhere  on  the 
otherwise  clean  shanks  of  a  specimen.  Exhibitors  are  human 
and  will  do  all  in  their  power  to  prepare  a  bird  which  will 
pass  muster  with  the  average  judge,  but  they  will  frown 
on  the  adjudicator  who  calls  to  his  aid  magnifying  glasses  or 
surgery  when  examining  the  legs  or  toes  of  fowls. 

Size  and  Condition. — The  size  and  condition  of  an  exhibi- 
tion specimen  often  determine  its  fate  in  the  show  room,  but 
great  care  should  be  exercised  by  the  judge  when  handling 
birds  that  appear  large  and  look  immaculate  in  their  feathered 
garb.  Looks  are  often  delusive,  especially  in  the  artificially 
prepared  exhibition  specimens  such  as  judges  are  confronted 


322  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

with  in  the  white-plumag-ed  varieties,  and  not  infrequently  in 
the  parti-colored  ones.  Cochins  which  appear  immense  in  size 
in  their  very  loose  feathering  which  has  been  curled  and 
flufifed  up  by  the  skilled  hand  of  the  exhibitor,  may  fall  short 
of  the  Standard  weight,  although  they  look  to  have  both  size 
and  weight. 

Size  is  a  relative  term,  so  when  two  specimens  are  com- 
pared, the  one  that  is  apparently  the  larger  will  win,  other 
points  being  equal.  But  the  weight  clause  is  the  only  safe  and 
correct  rule  to  apply  in  such  close  decisions. 

It  is  also  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  the  specimen  over 
Standard  weight,  while  larger  in  size,  may  be  coarser  in  type. 
As  the  veteran  Light  Brahma  breeder  and  judge  once  remarked 
to  an  old  judge  who  awarded  a  twelve-pound  Light  Brahma 
hen  a  prize  over  one  that  fell  a  trifle  under  the  Standard 
weight:  "When  we  want  meat,  we  go  to  market  for  it  where 
we  can  buy  it  for  a  shilling  a  pound."  Size  and  overweight  do 
not  make  Brahmas,  and  every  pound  over  the  Standard  weight 
destroys  the  type  by  making  the  specimen  coarser. 

What  applies  to  Light  Brahmas  will  apply  with  equal 
force  to  Plymouth  Rocks,  Wyandottes,  Rhode  Island  Reds  and 
other  breeds  subject  to  weight  clauses,  where  it  is  desirable  to 
maintain  the  correct  typical  form  of  the  brood. 

The  size  or  weight  allotted  the  various  breeds  in  the  Ameri- 
can Standard  of  Perfection  is  based  on  the  careful  judgment 
of  the  poultry  breeders  of  the  United  States  and  Canada,  so 
that  a  strict  adherence  to  the  weight  clauses,  when  judging 
standard-bred  varieties,  is  compulsory. 

Relative  Value  of  Condition. — Condition  is  given  but  four 
points  in  the  "Scale  of  Points,"  for  nearly  all  breeds,  the 
exceptions  being  Sumatras,  Games  and  Malays,  which  have 
ten,  six  and  eight  points  allotted  to  them.  As  the  last  three 
mentioned  breeds  possess  special  characteristics  in  plumage, 
condition  is  a  most  important  factor  when  specimens  of  these 
fanciers'  breeds  are  exhibited  in  the  show  room. 

But  in  the  American  classes  four  points  is  sufficient,  as  few 
breeders  and  exhibitors  will  send  poorly  feathered  or  ill- 
conditioned  specimens  to  a  winter  show.  However,  at  a 
summer  or  fall  show,  due  allowance  must  be  made  for  the 
condition  of  adult  specimens,  as  few  if  any  are  through  their' 
natural  molt,  consequently  will  not  "shape  up"  like  a  finished 
specimen,  one  that  has  molted  in  a  completely  new  garb  of 
feathers.     Nevertheless,  shape  can  be  approximately  gauged 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  323 

by  careful  inspection  of  the  body,  the  breadth  and  length  of 
the  back  and  breast  sections,  as  a  rule,  furnishing  a  good  indi- 
cation of  what  the  bird  will  develop  into  when  in  full  plumage. 
It  is  well  to  bear  in  mind  that  an  adult  specimen  exhibited  at 
an  early  show,  albeit  in  full  plumage  and  exhibited  in  excellent 
condition,  may  be  greatly  inferior  in  color  markings  to  one 
heavy  in  molt. 

Typical  Shape  and  Color, — "Shape  makes  the  breed,  and 
color  the  variety,"  is  an  old  accepted  belief  among  poultry 
breeders  which  obviously  makes  type  or  shape  all  important 
in  a  breed,  and  no  judge  can  afford  to  sacrifice  shape  for 
color  alone.  American  poultry  judges  in  most  instances  have 
accepted  and  followed  this  belief,  but  in  England  the  type 
has  not  received  the  consideration  at  the  hands  of  English 
judges  the  Standard  demands,  a  fact  which  has  led  progress- 
ive poultry  editors  and  breeders  to  issue  warnings  in  the 
poultry  press,  demanding  that  greater  value  be  placed  on  type 
and  lesser  consideration  be  given  to  color. 

The  American  Standard  of  Perfection  in  the  Scale  of 
Points  for  the  American  classes,  allows  nearly  an  equal  num- 
ber of  points  for  color  and  for  shape,  aside  from  comb,  which 
places  each  on  an  equal  footing,  consequently  both  must 
receive  the  same  consideration  when  specimens  are  judged 
at  a  poultry  show.  But  great  care  must  be  taken  in  balancing 
defects,  especially  in  varieties  where  color  markings  may  be 
so  strikingly  beautiful  that  the  judge  must  accord  to  such 
their  full  value  always,  no  matter  what  the  defects  in  shape 
may  be.  To  pass  by  a  magnificently  Penciled  or  Laced  Wyan- 
dotte, simply  because  it  may  have  a  long  back  or  lean  neck, 
is  not  consistent  with  careful  and  sound  judgment. 

The  Standard  demands  that  such  consideration  be  given 
to  both  shape  and  color,  and  what  applies  to  Silver  Wyan- 
dottes.  for  instance,  whether  English  or  American  bred,  will 
apply  to  all  other  varieties  in  the  American,  English.  Mediter- 
ranean. Erench  or  other  Standard  classes.  The  Standard  rule 
in  applying  the  comparison  system  when  judging  typical 
shape,  reads:  "In  awarding  prizes  by  comparison,  judges 
must  consider  carefully  each  and  every  section  of  the  specimen 
and  not  allow  color  alone  to  influence  their  decisions.  The 
vital  importance  of  typical  shape  is  to  be  borne  constantly  in 
mind,  at  the  same  time  giving  due  consideration  to  color  in 
all  sections,  including  under-color." 

And   in   judging   size,   the    rule   to   be   followed    is:    "In 


3:24  AMERICAN   POULTRY    Ai^tiOCIATlON 

determining  size,  the  judge  shall  decide  by  comparing  the 
specimens  in  competition,  with  due  regard  to  weight  in  all 
breeds  and  varieties  where  weight  is  required  by  the  Standard, 
When  a  bird  fails  to  attain,  or  in  case  it  exceeds  the  size  pro- 
portionate with  type  or  shape,  it  must  be  discounted  quite 
severely." 

If  poultry  judges  will  obey  and  carry  out  these  two  rules 
when  adjudicating  their  classes  at  poultry  exhibitions,  satis- 
factory judging  will  be  the  rule.  For  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  Standard  requirements  of  all  breeds  and  their  varieties 
and  of  the  rules  governing  the  awarding  of  prizes  to  same, 
poultry  judges  (especially  the  younger  ones)  should  make  it 
a  point  to  visit  the  larger  winter  shows  for  the  purpose  of 
studying  the  winning  specimens  in  the  different  classes ;  a 
surpassingly  beautiful  bird  in  sh^.pe  and  color  will  make  a 
lasting  impression  on  the  minds  of  close  observers,  and  a 
poultry  judge  should  be  the  closes'  observer  of  all.  (J.  ?I.  D.) 


CHAPTER   III. 
JUDGING  WYANDOTTES. 

THE  Wyandotte  has  a  distinctive  type  or  shape  char- 
acteristic of  the  breed,  which,  regardless  of  what  some 
White  Wyandotte  breeders  may  claim  to  have  done  to 
change  the  type  by  producing  so-called  fashionable  types, 
which  may  enjoy  a  temporary  reign  of  popularity,  must  be  ob- 
served in  all  varieties. 

Shape  Is  Paramount. — Form  in  all  thoroughbred  races  of 
animals  is  paramount.  It  is  the  shape  which  gives  to  one 
breed  its  fixed  characteristic  to  distinguish  it  from  another. 
The  thoroughbred  horse  breeds  true  to  form.  The  Standard- 
bred  fowl  must  confrom  to  the  breed  type  demanded  by  the 
American  Standard  of  Perfection,  which  is  the  guide  for  the 
breeder  to  follow  and  the  law  for  the  judge  to  observe. 

Typical  shape  must  be  given  the  first  consideration  when 
judging  a  class  of  Wyandottes,  for  the  beautiful  form  of  the 
Standard  ideal  is  the  characteristic  feature  of  the  breed. 

The  American  Standard  of  Perfection  describes  Wyan- 
dotte form  as  follows:  "In  shape  the  Wyandotte  has  a  type 
peculiarly  its  own.  It  is  emphatically  a  bird  of  curves. 
Breeders  should  strive  to  maintain  the  short,  broad  back  and 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  325 

deep,  round  body ;  also  the  curved,  close-fitting-  comb  which 
adds  to  the  beauty  of  the  specimen."  The  experienced  breeder 
and  judge  of  Wyandottes  will  bear  in  mind  always  the  bird  of 
curves  of  the  Standard,  but  will  make  due  allowance  for  the 
harmonious  blending  of  all  the  shape  sections,  in  order  to 
value  the  specimen  as  a  symmetrical  whole  approximating 
the  accepted  Standard  ideal  in  shape,  but  to  the  mexperienced 
poultry  breeder  and  judge  the  words  "short"  and  "round"  will 
prove  misleading  and  more  especially  so  when  Wyandottes 
have  been  illustrated  purporting  to  represent  the  Standard, 
but  in  reality  representing  the  faddistic  ideals  of  a  few  Wyan- 
dotte breeders.  The  destructive  shape  portraits  made  the 
Wyandottes  appear  as  round  as  balls,  the  bodies  filling  out  a 
circle.  Such  specimens  lack  the  graceful  or  symmetrical  lines 
which  the  true  Wyandotte  possesses.  In  these  exaggerated 
illustrations,  they  are  represented  as  being  soft  and  loose- 
feathered  around  the  thighs,  the  hock  lines  covered  while  the 
back  line  approaches  the  \^-shape  instead  of  having  the  grace- 
ful U-shape  curves.  The  Wyandotte  is  not  a  soft  or  loose- 
feathered  fowl,  but  a  bird  of  cobby  build,  with  fairly  close 
fitting  plumage.  Loose  or  Cochiny  feathering  destroys  the 
symmetrical  outlines  of  the  ideal  Standard  Wyandotte. 

Form  of  the  Male. — The  White  Wyandotte  being  the 
most  popular  and  widely  bred  variety  of  the  Wyandotte  fam- 
ily, and  one  that  has  had  the  most  changes  in  shape  ideals 
since  its  origin,  due  to  the  efforts  of  the  individual  breeders, 
who  were  always  striving  after  the  higher  ideals,  albeit  such 
were  often  radical  departures  from  the  Standard  ideal,  we  will 
use  as  ilustrations  to  more  clearly  define  the  typical  form  of 
the  Wyandotte  by  interpreting  the  Standard  descriptions  of 
the  shape  sections,  the  pictures  on  pages  196  and  197. 

The  White  Wyandotte  male,  pictured  herein,  embodies 
the  composite  shape  ideals  of  leading  breeders  and  judges. 
The  subject  in  this  illustration  conforms  intelligently  and 
closely  to  the  Standard  word  description  of  the  type  of  a 
mature  Wyandotte  male,  and  possesses  the  cobby  form  and 
smooth  feathering  as  well  as  the  curvilinear  lines  of  the  "bird 
of  curves"  of  the  American  Standard  of  Perfection. 

The  outlines  also  embody  grace  and  denote  activity,  while 
the  general  appearance  indicates  strength  and  masculinity.  A 
specimen  approximating  the  form  of  this  ideal  and  possessing 
superior  color  or  color  markings  should  prove  a  winner  in  any 
company.  A  careful  study  of  the  dift'erent  sections  will  reveal 
their  individual  perfection  and  beauty  of  form,  the  blending 


326  AMERICAN  POULTRY  A880CIATI0N 

of  all  sections  producing  a  harmonious  blending  in  the  finished 
specimen.  This  Wyandotte  male  stands  firmly  on  strong  legs 
and  feet,  the  legs  being  well  spread,  showing  the  deep,  broad 
and  full  breast,  well  spread  tail,  coach  horse  neck  and  the 
comparatively  short,  broad  and  finely  rounded  or  cushioned 
back,  found  only  on  the  highest  type  of  Wyandotte  males. 

Standard  Head  Points. — The  head  of  the  Wyandotte  is  a 
unique  feature  of  the  breed  ,and  no  other  breed  possesses  a 
rose  comb  of  the  shape,  symmetry  and  fineness  of  texture  of 
the  Wyandotte.  It  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  assets  of  the 
breed  from  an  exhibition  standpoint.  No  matter  how  true  the 
form  of  the  body  or  sound  and  beautiful  the  plumage  may  be, 
a  large,  beefy,  coarsely  pebbled  comb  destroys  the  appear- 
ance of  the  specimen  possessing  such,  as  well  as  its  chances 
of^inning  the  coveted  blue  ribbon  in  the  showroom. 

The  comb  is  described  in  the  Standard  as  follows:  "Rose, 
low,  firm  on  head;  top  oval,  free  from  hollow  center,  and  sur- 
face covered  with  small,  rounded  points,  tapering  to  a  well 
defined  point  (spike)  at  rear,  the  entire  comb  curving  to  con- 
form  to   the   shape   of   skull." 

The  comb  of  the  male  illustrated  conforms  to  the  above 
Standard  description.  Combs,  however,  may  appear  good  in 
shape  and  size,  but  fail  in  texture  or  surface  finish.  One  of 
the  most  typical  and  symmetrical  combs  we  ever  saw  on  a  liv- 
ing specimen  is  that  which  topped  the  head  of  a  White  Wyan- 
dottee  cock,  winner  of  first  prize  at  the  Madison  Square  Gar- 
den, 1911,  and  second  at  Chicago  in  1912.  The  head  of  a 
Wyandotte  male  should  be  broad  and  well  rounded,  the  brows 
slightly  overhanging,  but  not  as  prominent  in  this  respect  as 
in  the  Brahma  fowl. 

Wattles  and  ear-lobes  should  be  fine  in  texture  and  medium 
in  length,  i.  e.,  wattles  should  be  long  enough  to  give  the  cock 
or  cockerel  the  characteristic  masculine  appearance,  but  ex- 
cessively long,  creased  and  coarse  wattles  should  be  dis- 
counted by  the  judges. 

In  comparison  judging,  where  we  use  what  we  call  "qual- 
ity ratings,"  i.  e.,  making  XXXXX  perfect,  with  XXXX, 
XXX,  XX  and  X  representing  excellent,  very  good,  good  and 
fair,  we  would  rate  coarse  lobes  in  cock  XX  and  X  in  cockerels. 

A  comb  like  the  one  illustrated  in  Figure  II,  should  be 
XXXX,  the  highest  mark  used  as  a  rule,  in  adjudicating  liv- 
ing specimens.  A  perfect  comb  should  be  rated  XXXXX, 
but  perfection  is  never  attained  except  in  very  rare  instances. 
We  have  handled  many  thousands  of  birds  in  the  past  forty 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  327 

years,  but  never  found  a  comb  which  could  be  rated  XXXXX, 
or  which  could  not  be  cut  at  least  from  one-half  to  one  point 
by  the  score  card  under  the  present  American  Standard  of 
Perfection.  A  fine  head  and  comb  will  make  a  decidedly 
good  first  impression  on  the  judge,  and  other  points  equal, 
the  birds  possessing  such  will  win  the  coveted  blue  ribbon. 

Form  of  Neck,  Back  and  Tail. — After  the  head  points  of 
the  Wyandotte  male  have  been  examined,  both  from  front  and 
sides,  the  neck  section  follows,  and  it  is  one  of  the  greatest  im- 
portance in  the  Wyandotte  male.  Many  years  ago  a  veteran 
fancier  and  very  keen  judge  described  the  neck  of  an  ideal 
Wyandotte  cock:  "He  has  the  neck  like  that  of  a  French 
coach  horse."  This  broad,  but  apt,  comparison  of  similar 
ideals  impresses  on  the  minds  of  the  breeder  and  judge  a  neck 
with  a  full,  well-furnished  set  of  feathers,  giving  it  a  broad, 
thick  and  comparatively  short  appearance.  A  long,  thin  neck 
is  foreign  to  the  breed,  being  accompanied  by  a  straight  and 
narrow  back  and  pinched  tail,  in  most  instances.  Such  speci- 
mens should  be  rated  XX  to  X  in  typical  form,  even  if  good 
in  head  points  and  other  sections. 

The  neck  illustration  in  the  picture  previously  referred  to 
is  ideal,  the  feathers  flowing  well  over  the  shoulders,  or  cape, 
and  forming  a  graceful  juncture  with  the  back. 

The  back  is  of  no  lesser  importance  than  the  neck,  al- 
though some  breeders  have  favored  the  shorter  back,  which, 
when  viewed  from  the  side,  discloses  the  objectionable  V- 
shape  instead  of  the  broadened  U-shape  true  standard  form 
demands.  The  concave  sweep  should  be  kept  "stretched  out" 
instead  of  shortened  and  deepened.  An  X  rating  is  sufficient 
for  these  V-shaped  back  specimens. 

The  tail  of  a  Wyandotte  male  is  an  important  section, 
but  not  so  important  as  to  overbalance  all  other  sections. 
Breeding  for  and  striving  to  attain  unusual  size  and  spread  of 
tail  destroys  the  harmony  of  the  other  sections,  so  it  is  neces- 
sary to  discount  excessive  tail  development,  and  judge  the 
shape,  size  and  carriage  of  the  tail  by  its  harmonious  re- 
lationship to  the  other  parts  or  sections  of  the  specimen.  The 
tail  of  a  Wyandotte  male  is  short  and  well  spread,  which  must 
be  carried  at  an  angle  of  about  fifty  degrees,  the  sickle  feathers 
being  medium  length  and  curving  closely  and  gracefully  over 
the  main  tail,  forming  an  unbroken,  curved  line.  The  back 
of  a  well  proportioned  and  fully-furnished  tail  is  typically 
illustrated  in  Plate  11. 


328  AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

Form  of  Breast,  Body,  Thighs  and  Wings. — The  breast  ot 
the  Wyandotte  male  must  be  broad,  deep  and  well  rounded,  as 
will  be  seen  in  Plate  11,  which  conforms  to  the  Standard  ideal 
in  shape.  The  1915  Standard  describes  the  body  as  "moder- 
ately short."  The  body  line  must  not  drop  below  the  hock 
lines,  as  was  often  the  case  with  loose-feathered  adult  Wyan- 
dottes  which  enjoyed  temporary  popular  favor  several  years 
ago.  The  flutt  is  well  delineated  in  Plate  11.  as  are  the  legs 
and  toes. 

The  thighs  of  the  Wyandotts  male  must  be  short  and  thick, 
indicating  an  abundance  of  meat.  Long  and  thin  thighs  are 
very  serious  defects  which  should  be  severely  discounted  when 
examining  and  judging  exhibition  specimens.  It  is  well  to 
feel  of  the  thighs  with  the  hand,  as  outward  appearances  are 
often  deceptive,  especially  when  the  thighs  are  loose  or  soft- 
feathered. 

The  wings  should  be  set  evenly  at  the  shoulders,  showing 
smooth,  rounded  fronts,  convex,  close-feathered  wing-bows 
and  bars,  the  primaries  and  secondaries  well  tucked  in  and 
held  up,  swinging  freely  from  the  body.  This  section  in  first- 
class  specimens  is  rarely,  if  ever,  defective  in  shape,  except 
perhaps  in  broken  or  twisted  feathers,  which  should  be  dis- 
counted, the  former  lightly,  the  latter  severely. 

Standard  Form  of  Female. — The  graceful  lines  of  the  male 
Wyandotte,  in  a  more  modest  degree,  are  the  striking  char- 
acteristic feature  of  the  ideal  Standard  Wyandotte  female. 
The  true  form  or  figure  of  the  Wyandotte  hen  or  pullet  must 
stand  the  symmetry  personified,  in  fact  she  must  have  as  near 
perfect  blending  of  all  her  sections  which  make  up  the  whole 
form  as  possible.  As  in  the  male,  there  must  be  no  angles, 
V-shaped  backs,  loose-feathered,  short  and  round  bodies,  hid- 
den hocks  or  inharmonious  parts.  Each  part  must  belong  to 
the  particular  hen  or  pullet  and  be,  in  proportion  and  char- 
acter, one  which  would  naturally  belong  to  a  bird  of  that 
conformation. 

In  some  respects  the  true  form  of  the  Wyandotte  female 
is  that  of  a  smaller  and  more  refined  type  of  a  high-class, 
Standard,  Dark  Brahma  female,  one  of  the  progenitors  of  the 
Wyandotte  breed.  The  heavier  skull  and  beetle  brow  of  the 
Brahma  has  been  replaced  by  the  broad  and  well-rounded  head 
with  slightly  overhanging  brows  in  the  Wyandotte.  The 
back,  albeit  shorter,  has  the  same  slightly  convex  cushion  and 
breadth  ;   the  breast  and   body  lines   are  proportionately   the 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND   BREED  BOOK  329 

same.  To  shorten  up  the  Wyandotte  into  a  ball  is  departing 
from  the  original  form  or  breed-type. 

The  Wyandotte  female  must  be  as  graceful  in  her  body 
lines  as  the  male  is  in  his,  the  only  difference  in  the  make-up 
being  in  size  and  the  obvious  sexual  conformation  of  neck, 
back  and  tail.  The  defects  in  form  of  the  male  are  the  same 
for  the  female,  but  less  accentuated  in  the  latter  than  in  the 
former.  The  form  of  the  1915  Standard  Wyandotte  female 
illustrates  the  ideal  for  shape  accepted  by  breeders  of  today. 

Form  of  Head,  Comb  and  Neck, — The  comb  of  the  female 
is  the  smaller  counterpart  of  that  of  the  male,  but  it  must  be 
finer  in  texture ;  the  same  holds  good  with  the  lobes  and 
wattles. 

In  judging  Wyandotte  females,  examine  the  head  points 
first,  for  a  characteristic  Wyandotte  head  with  neat  and  well- 
fitting  comb,  and  a  short  beak  with  a  stout  upper  mandible, 
slightly  curved,  will  usually  be  found  on  a  good  body.  Few 
female  heads  will  rate  XXXX  in  quality,  so  when  a  real  su- 
perior one  is  found  in  the  showroom  or  breeder's  yard,  it  is 
safest  to  mark  it  XXX  and  rate  the  others  XX  or  X. 

The  neck  of  the  female  is  of  equal  importance  in  deter- 
mining the  correct  form  or  breed  type  of  the  Wyandotte. 
But  finely  formed,  full-leathered  and  gracefully  curved  necks 
are  not  very  common.  Few  can  be  voted  XXXX,  a  few  more 
XXX,  but  the  majority  of  necks  will  not  average  XX  or  X  if 
the  Standard  form  is  strictly  observed. 

Form  of  Back,  Tail  and  Wings. — The  American  Standard 
of  Perfection,  1915,  describes  the  back  of  the  Wyandotte  fe- 
male as:  "Short,  broad,  flat  at  shoulders,  rising  in  a  con- 
cave sweep  to  a  broad,  slightly-rounded  cushion,  which  ex- 
tends on  to  main  tail ;  plumage,  abundant." 

The  back  of  the  Wyandotte  female  in  reality  is  not  short, 
it  only  appears  to  be  so,  due  to  the  profuse  feathering  of  the 
neck  and  the  excessively  large  cushion  in  some  specimens. 

The  ideal  Standard  Wyandotte  must  have  an  unbroken, 
graceful,  curved  line  from  the  crown  of  the  head  arching  over 
the  neck,  and  meeting  the  concaved  line  which  continues  on 
to  the  cushion,  making  no  angle  at  the  juncture  of  the  neck 
and  the  back,  and  only  a  slight  indenture  at  the  end  of  the 
cushion  line  where  the  latter  meets  the  tail.     (See  Plate  61.) 

Specimens  showing  V-shaped  backs  and  Cochiny  cushions 
should  be  rated  no  higher  than  X.  A  Wyandotte  female  which 
can  be  rated  XX  is  an  exceptionally  good  one,  and  one  which 
reaches  XXX  is  a  star  in  this  section. 


330  AMERICAN   POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

The  tail  should  be  short  and  well  spread.  Judges  will 
have  little  or  no  cause  to  discount  this  section  in  exhibition 
specimens,  as  a  rule,  for  the  skill  and  art  of  the  breeder  and 
exhibitor  will  look  after  that. 

Female  Wyandotte  tails  must  be  rated  not  less  than  XXX 
or  even  XXXX  at  our  leading-  shows.  Pinched  and  long  tails 
must  be  rated  X  whenever  found. 

Wings  are  seldom  faulty  in  outward  conformation,  the 
most  common  faults  and  serious  defects  being  broken  or 
twisted  primary  or  secondary  feathers,  which  must  be  dis- 
counted the  same  as  for  these  found  in  males. 

Form  of  Breast,  Body  and  Thighs. — The  most  important 
as  well  as  prominent  section  is  that  of  the  breast.  It  must 
be  broad,  well-rounded  and  deep.  The  fish-breasted  Wyan- 
dotte female  is  an  abomination,  as  it  gives  undue  prominence 
to  the  protruding  breast  bone.  Such  breasts  must  be  severely 
punished  by  the  judge,  even  where  there  is  little  or  no  competi- 
tion. Unless  such  birds  are  superlatively  good  in  all  other 
sections — which  is  rarely  the  case — they  should  be  passed 
by  the  judge  and  marked  unworthy  of  a  prize.  Neither 
should  the  breast  be  inflated  or  puffed  up,  but  should  be 
smooth-feathered  and  well  rounded  to  form  a  symmetrical, 
curved  line  with  the  body.  The  latter,  while  deep,  should 
not  drop  its  keel  line  below  the  hocks  or  carry  a  useless 
amount  of  drooping  fluff.  The  heavy  Cochiny-bodied  birds, 
often  found  among  good,  but  over-fat,  adult  Wyandotte  hens, 
should  not  be  rated  higher  than  X  in  this  section.  The 
thighs  should  feel  meaty  and  full  when  in  hand,  and  exhibit 
clearly  defined  curvilinear  hock  lines.  Long  thighs  and  loose- 
feathered  one  are  defects  which  deserve  no  higher  rating  than 
an  X  at  the  most. 

Shanks  should  be  short,  but  not  so  short  as  to  make 
creepers  of  Wyandottes.  They  should  be  stout  and  strong, 
but  not  so  heavy  in  bone  so  as  to  destroy  the  graceful  sym- 
metry of  the  other  sections.  Toes  must  be  straight.  As  a 
rule,  few  cuts  are  made  for  shape  in  shanks  and  toes,  so  that 
these  sections  can  usually  be  rated  XXX.     (J.  H.  D.) 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  331 

SECTION    II. 
THE  EXHIBITOR'S  PART. 

CHAPTER  I. 

EXAMINATION  OF  CANDIDATES  FOR  SHOW 
HONORS. 

CHAPTERS  upon  this  topic  are  generally  written  under 
the  title  of  "Selecting  for  the  Show  Room,"  but  selection 
is  always  accomplished  by  examination;  in  reality  it  is 
the  result  of  several  examinations  from  dififerent  angles,  the 
candidate  for  show  honors  passing  successfully  through  at 
least  four  successive  examinations  before  it  is  finally  crated 
and  shipped  to  the  show  room,  where  it  is  to  undergo  final 
examination  at  the  hands  of  the  official  arbiter,  whose  decision, 
should  it  be  final  as  it  usually  is,  will  determine  whether  this 
particular  specimen  was  worth  while,  or  whether  it  was  a 
"misfit"  in  that  particular  select  company,  and  whether  your 
energy  was  well  directed  or  misspent.  Chances  of  misdirected 
effort  or  of  selecting  to  little  purpose  increase  with  com- 
petition, but  so  do  also  the  benefits  you  derive  from  winning 
in  such  competition  and  in  such  proportion  as  the  competition 
is  keen.  Your  interests  demand  that  misdirected  eflfort  in  all 
directions  be  so  far  as  possible  eliminated.  That  basic  law 
of  success  is  just  as  applicable  when  selecting  for  the  show 
room  as  at  any  other  time  and  in  any  other  place.  To  select 
wisely  and  well,  your  best  candidate  means  much  to  you  and 
something  to  the  poultry-loving  public.  To  you  it  means  the 
saving  of  labor,  expense  and  perhaps  chagrin.  To  the  public, 
the  elimination  of  poor  and  mediocre  specimens  means  a  better 
impression  and  increased  interest,  attitudes  worth  cultivating. 
The  Processes  of  Selection. — The  process  of  selection  of 
show  birds  as  it  is  practiced  by  the  experienced  exhibitor,  if 
analyzed,  consists  of  four  steps :  the  candidates  are  quite 
loosely  selected,  then  examined  closely,  and  carefully  and 
critically  compared  one  with  another,  after  which  the  selec- 
tion by  casual  observation  is  confirmed  or  rejected. 


332  AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

The  First  Step. — Selection  is  dependent  upon  examination, 
casual  at  first  and  superficial,  necessarily,  as  it  is  the  superficial 
attractiveness  of  a  bird  that  must  first  catch  the  eye.  An  ex- 
ceptionally good  comb,  stylish  carriage,  symmetrical  form, 
strikingly  handsome  markings,  or  brilliant  colors,  are  super- 
ficial qualities  that  please  and  win  the  specimen  possessing 
them  almost  instantly  a  first  consideration. 

"Catchy  Quality." — This  "catchy  quality"  should  figure 
largely  in  the  selection  of  show  specimens  when  not  accom- 
panied by  too  serious  faults  as  it  means  beauty,  and  beauty 
coupled  with  utility  is  the  keynote  of  the  Standard. 

To  explain  the  phrase  "catchy  qualities"  would  be  difificult, 
though  to  define  it  would  be  easy.  It  simply  means  beauty  or 
attractiveness.  To  state  exactly  of  what  it  consists  is  prac- 
tically impossible.  However,  it  is  a  quality  recognized  by  both 
the  professional  and  the  amateur  and  must  always  be  reckoned 
with.  Many  birds  with  the  catchy  quality  lack  in  certain 
qualities  and  they  become  what  is  known  as  "fillers." 

"Fillers." — -Fillers  are  used,  however,  in  the  keenest  com- 
petition and  one  expects  to  take  chances  with  a  few  of  good 
quality  if  they  have  characteristics  to  which  the  judge  is 
known  to  be  partial.  Fillers  are,  in  general,  birds  of  three 
classes,  first :  birds  of  no  more  than  average  merit  but  one 
phenomenally  good  section,  or  quality,  which,  if  it  is  located 
in  some  prominent  section,  makes  the  specimen  very  attract- 
ive ;  second :  often,  however,  a  specimen  having  such  phenom- 
enal qualities  in  one  or  perhaps  more  sections  is  correspond- 
ingly poor  in  possibly  an  equal  number,  yet  it  is  possible  that 
the  judge  and  even  popular  opinion  will  be  overawed  by  the 
excellence  of  the  section  of  phenomenal  merit,  while  the  faulty 
sections  will  be  overlooked ;  third :  the  class  of  birds  that  are 
known  as  good  all  around  specimens,  though  they  have  no 
serious  defects,  they  are  very  fair  in  all  particulars  and  meet 
technical  requirements  very  well,  but  they  lack  attractive- 
ness. While  the  analysis  is  satisfactory,  the  catchy  qualities 
are  decidedly  lacking.  Without  these,  it  is  seldom  that  a  bird 
is  returned  a  winner  in  close  competition. 

The  Second  Step. — Close  Examination. — A  winning  speci- 
men needs  more  than  the  power  to  attract  admiration.  It 
needs  also  the  power  to  retain  it  after  examination,  which 
with  one  who  has  accepted  certain  standards  of  beauty  means 
that  the  specimen  must  meet  the  requirements  of  such  a 
standard  as  the  person  who  conducts  such  an  examination  has 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  333 

adopted.  The  first  step,  the  selection  of  candidates  by  casual 
observation,  usually  at  a  distance,  is  followed  by  an  examina- 
tion which  should  involve  the  closest  and  most  critical  scru- 
tiny, section  by  section,  as  to  their  conformity  with  the  re- 
quirements of  the  Standard  of  Perfection. 

Mental  processes,  even  with  the  best  trained  minds,  are 
too  restricted  to  attempt  to  accomplish  this  as  a  whole  or  in 
one  operation.  The  specimen  must  be  examined  carefully, 
section  by  section,  for  both  color  and  shape,  beginning  with 
symmetry  and  ending  with  legs  and  toes,  forgetting  none. 
Both  the  merits  and  defects  of  each  must  be  accurately 
weighed,  the  defects  because  they  count  against  the  speci- 
men, the  merits  because  upon  these  depend  its  position  in  the 
awards.  The  examiner  must  expect  to  find  both  merits  and 
defects.  These  are  two  qualities  that  all  birds  possess.  None 
are  perfect,  and  no  well-bred  specimen  is  entirely  devoid  of 
merit.  Unusual  merit  in  one  or  more  sections  will  offset 
defects  in  others.  Good  color  will  offset  good  shape,  and  vice 
versa.  In  some  varieties  good  undercolor  offsets  to  a  certain 
extent  defective  surface  color,  while  in  other  varieties  under- 
color may  be  so  universally  good  that  but  little  attention  is 
paid  to  it  in  estimating  comparative  merits  of  two  or  more 
exhibition  specimens.  In  still  other  instances,  undercolor  is 
almost  wholly  a  breeder's  point,  not  considered  very  seriously 
in  the  estimation  of  show  merit.  The  actual  consideration  of 
the  different  phases  of  each  section  of  each  variety  obviously 
cannot  be  treated  in  this  chapter,  as  such  consideration  forms 
a  large  part  of  the  entire  treatise. 

But  it  is  in  place,  however,  to  call  particular  attention  to 
the  chapters  on  common  defects  of  plumaee  and  the  accom- 
panying illustrations,  which  should  be  studied  minutely  after 
a  good  mental  digest  of  the  standard  requirements  of  the  par- 
ticular variety  in  question.  Many  other  chapters  in  this  work 
would  assist  the  exhibitor  in  selecting  the  strongest  candi- 
date for  show  honors,  as  there  is  much  correlation  between 
breeding  and  exhibiting,  and  the  understanding  of  the  origin 
and  development  of  a  breed  or  variety  increases  the  capacity  of 
an  individual  to  comprehend  the  trend  of  public  opinion,  which 
as  well  as  the  Standard  has  its  influence  on  the  judge's  con- 
ception of  what  an  ideal  fowl  of  any  varietv  should  be,  as  it 
has  had.  heretofore,  its  influence  upon  the  Standard's  printed 
description  of  the  same  thing. 


334  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Prime  Requisites  Overlooked. — -There  are,  moreover,  some 
qualities  which  must  be  considered  that  are  usually  overlooked 
as  Standard  qualities,  though  they  should  not  be.  Health, 
vigor  and  a  generally  attractive  appearance  are  surely  most 
essential  considerations  in  final  selection  by  exhibitors  of  long 
experience.  It  is  clearly  the  intenton  of  the  Standard  to  make 
these  requirements  of  prime  importance.  Health  is  demaxided 
under  the  section  of  "condition,"  with  but  an  allowance  of 
four  points,  it  is  true,  but  even  at  that  it  is  next  to  impossible 
for  a  bird  to  win  unless  it  is  in  perfect  health,  or  we  might 
better  say,  in  good  condition,  which  means  more,  including 
both  good  health  and  good  feather.  It  is  not  necessary  that  a 
specimen  should  lose  the  total  allotment  of  four  points  to 
have  a  cut  on  condition  fatal  to  his  chance  of  winning.  Often 
a  loss  of  one  point  or  even  of  one-half  a  point  in  this  section  is 
fatal.  It  is  generally  essential  that  the  bird  be  perfectly  con- 
ditioned, if  it  is  to  be  a  possible  winner,  and  such  a  condition 
is  acquired  only  by  perfect  health,  which  is  confirmed,  per- 
haps, by  the  fact  that  it  has  already  been  selected  as  a  candi- 
date, which  should  be  reaffirmed  by  closest  examination.  To 
win  in  close  competition  without  this  quality  would  be  difficult, 
but  alone  it  is  not  enough  to  win  in  good  competition,  though 
it  is  sufficient  many  times  to  win  the  admiration  of  both  the 
novice  and  the  expert;  that  of  the  latter  for  only  a  limited 
period,  however,  and  that  period  comparative  to  the  degree  of 
his  proficiency. 

Comparison  of  Candidates. — During  this  process  many 
things  must  be  taken  into  consideration  besides  comparing 
one  section  with  another  for  shape,  for  color,  or  for  both. 
These  are:  The  condition  of  the  bird,  the  health,  development 
in  regard  to  shape,  in  regard  to  plumage,  weight,  time  of 
show,  or  length  of  time  available  for  process  of  conditioning. 

When  the  time  for  the  final  consideration  of  the  different 
candidates  with  these  requisites  in  mind  draws  near,  much  de- 
pends on  whether  the  show  is  to  be  judged  by  score  cards  or 
comparison.  For  one  thing,  when  the  score  card  system  is 
to  be  used,  weight  becomes  of  much  importance.  A  bird  that 
is  a  pound  underweight  loses  according  to  standard  rules  two 
points,  and  the  ones  which  are  so  handicapped  must  excel  one- 
half  of  one  point  in  four  sections  to  get  on  even  terms  with 
one  not  thus  handicapped.  This  statement  give.=  the  re?der  an 
idea  of  the  handicap  of  underweight,  yet  it  is  iiOt  unu  ual  to 
see  specimens  on  exhibition  more  than  a  pound  underweight, 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  335 

and  then  the  handicap  becomes  even  more  serious.  Very 
often  birds  of  naturally  very  superior  plumage  are  justly  de- 
feated by  fully  matured,  up-to-weight  specimens.  As  a  rule, 
well-balanced  birds,  or  birds  of  good  even  qualities  do  well 
in  score  card  exhibitions.  High  scoring  birds  are  often  those 
whose  fundamental  qualities  are  perfect.  If  a  specimen  be 
fully  up  to  weight,  in  good  plumage,  in  perfect  health,  and 
perfect  in  beak,  eyes,  and  legs,  and  has  a  nearly  perfect  comb, 
it  is  a  hard  bird  to  score  low,  even  if  it  has  only  fair  plumage. 
The  foregoing  attributes  are  what  we  term  the  fundamental 
qualities,  and  the  previous  statement  is  particularly  true,  if,  in 
addition,  the  specimen  has  good  shape. 

When  the  Comparision  System  is  Used. — At  exhibitions 
governed  by  the  comparison  system,  first  impressions  un- 
doubtedly carry  more  weight  than  under  the  score  card  svs- 
tem,  which  compels  minute  inspection,  not  merely  invites  it. 
First  imoressions  are.  therefore,  important  and  such  birds 
as  described  near  the  beginning  of  this  chapter  are  the  ones 
which  catch  the  eye  at  first  glance  and  are  good  selections  as 
a  rule.  Not  only  do  first  impressions  count  more  but  if  a  speci- 
men under  the  comparison  system  fails  to  "score"  with  the 
first  impression,  that  specimen  is.  then  and  there,  down  and 
out.  It  must  possess  some  strongly  attractive  feature,  and  it 
must  be  one  that  impresses  the  judge  quickly.  What  that  fea- 
ture must  be  varies  widelv  and  depends  somewhat  upon  the 
likes  and  perhaps  the  dislikes  of  this  or  that  particular  judee. 
It  might  be  shape  or  it  might  be  color.  It  should  be  without 
question  even  all-around  quality.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  a 
study  of  judges  as  well  as  a  study  of  standard  requirements  is 
verv  often  important  in  the  solution  of  the  big  problem.  "HOW 
to  WIN  prizes."  Again,  the  excellence  of  the  marking's  of 
one  or  more  sections,  possibly  the  condition  or  behavior  of  the 
specimen  in  the  show  coop,  the  abilitv  to  pose,  verv  likely 
will  have  considerable  weight  with  the  judge  that  is  just  a 
little  emphatic  about  shape  requirements. 

It  would  be  well  at  this  stage  for  the  novice  to  take  from 
the  Standard  a  mental  or  written  list  of  all  possible  defects 
for  each  section  for  color  and  markings.  Defects  of  shape  are 
not  so  complicated  and  are.  therefore,  more  quickly  seen.  For 
example,  if  a  specimen  of  the  BuflF  variety  was  to  be  examined. 
a  list  something"  like  this  would  assist  the  novice:  Correct 
shade  of  color,  form,  surface  color,  edging,  mealiness,  shafti- 
ness,  sections  too  dark,  sections  too  light,  undercolor  too  lisrht. 
uniform  color,  black  or  white  in  tail,  in  wing,  etc.     (A.  C.  S.) 


336  AMERICAN'    POULTRY   A1S;SOCIATION 

CHAPTER  II. 
CONDITIONING    FOWLS    FOR    EXHIBITION. 

SUCCESSFUL  showing"  ccjiisists  of  two  things,  having  the 
quality  and  showing  it  properly.  The  gardener  who 
raises  roses  for  the  market  strives  to  place  them  on  the 
market  when  they  luring  the  greatest  price.  The  man  who 
raises  broilers  for  a  living  times  his  product  for  the  highest 
market.  It  is  the  exhibitor's  business  to  time  his  birds  for  the 
exhibition  just  as  the  gardener  and  market  poultryman  time 
their  products  to  be  at  their  best  at  the  most  advantageous 
season. 

Regulating  Development. — The  second  principle  involves 
the  science  or  art  (may  we  say  knack?)  of  properly  rearing  a 
bird  and  timing  it  for  the  exhibition. 

The  phrase  "Every  dog  has  his  day,"  will  never  be  applied 
to  anything  more  forcefully  than  to  exhibition  poultry ;  the 
bird  that  was  a  "Never  Beaten"  last  week  is  a  "Has  Been" 
this,  and  we  see  it  exemplified  time  and  time  again.  There 
comes  a  time  in  the  life  of  every  young  bird  when,  seemingly, 
a  transformation  from  the  awkward,  angular  lines  and  short, 
scant,  rough  garb  of  the  chicken  to  the  full,  round  contour  and 
abundant,  sleek,  profusely  fllowing  feathered  dress  of  maturity 
takes  place,  which,  on  account  of  its  brevity,  appears  almost 
magical.  It  is  well  then,  to  estimate  the  time,  even  the  mo- 
ment, which  you  can  from  years  of  experience  with  your  own 
strain  of  birds,  when  your  birds  will  be  fully  matured  in  form 
and  fully  fledged,  as  the  growing  proclivities  of  two  strains 
are  seldom  the  same.  Note  mentally  the  progress  and  de- 
velopment of  your  birds  each  year.  If  your  memory  is  in- 
capable of  carrying  the  relative  progress  of  your  birds  with 
reference  to  age  and  development,  keep  accurate  notes.  They 
will  be  both  interesting  and  instructive  if  kept  in  connection 
with  a  feather  album,  which  is  always  a  valuable  asset  to 
any  breeders'  library. 

Condition,  All-Important. — A  good  exhibition  specimen 
must  have  first  a  certain  degree  of  excellence  in  size,  shape  and 
plumage.  Excellent  quality  in  all  of  these  particulars  except 
size  passes  unnoticed  in  poorly  conditioned  birds. 

We  see  then  that  condition  is  an  all-important,  overshad- 
owing essential  to  a  winning  bird  and  without  approximate 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  337 

perfection  in  this  particular,  specimens  even  of  great  quality 
naturally  will  seldom  win  in  close  competition.  With  some 
v^arieties,  the  relative  places  on  the  award  list  are  but  expres- 
sions of  the  degree  of  perfection  of  condition  of  the  specimens 
shown.  To  win,  some  varieties  are  more  dependent  upon  con- 
dition than  others.  Most  prominent  of  these  varieties  that  de- 
pend largely  upon  condition  to  win  are  all  black  and  all  white 
varieties,  and  varieties  of  the  red-black  color  patterns.  Some 
will  object  to  this  statement  as  too  broad  and  certainly  condi- 
tion with  nothing  back  of  it  will  never  win ;  but  just  as  cer- 
tainly will  perfect  condition  cover  many  defects  and  enable 
a  bird  of  average  exhibition  quality  to  win  over  one  naturally 
superior. 

Condition,  Examined. — What,  then,  does  condition  mean? 
What  does  the  word  embrace?  Many  things  and  various 
things :  in  some  birds,  it  means  the  proper  fluffy  effect  or 
looseness  of  feather ;  in  others,  it  may  mean  the  opposite  or 
hardness  of  feather,  and  in  still  others,  the  American  varieties 
for  instance,  a  mean  between  these  two  extremes ;  in  all  varie- 
ties, the  necessary  weight,  the  health  and  vigor  that  gives  a 
bright  eye,  glowing  face,  slick  appearance  and  gloss  of  plum- 
age. The  shape  that  a  specimen  displays  in  an  exhibition  cage 
depends  upon  condition,  for  without  good  poise  no  specimen 
appears  to  good  advantage  and  poise  is  in  most  every  instance 
dependent  upon  condition.  Condition  of  exhibition  specimens 
consists  of  perfect  health,  full  developed  form  and  plumage, 
but  not  over-development  in  either,  the  required  smoothness 
and  hardness  or  looseness  of  feather,  the  acquired  tempera- 
ment and  docility  to  assume  and  maintain  perfect  poise,  or 
correct  carriage  without  which  no  specimen  can  create  the 
impression  of  form. 

In  the  acquiring  of  good  or  perfect  condition,  two  principles 
become  involved  and  must  receive  consideration.  The  first 
is  that — 

Winning  Quality  Is  Hereditary. — Good  showing  qualities 
and  aptness  for  good  condition  are  just  as  surely  transmitted 
from  generation  to  generation  as  any  characteristics  of  the 
species.  You  have  often  observed,  if  you  are  an  exhibitor, 
that  some  birds  condition  easily  while  it  is  almost  impossible 
to  make  others  acquire  the  smoothness  of  feather  and  the 
style  or  poise  that  gives  them  the  winning  quality.  Both  of 
these  characteristics,  sleek  plumage  and  poise,  are  hereditary 
in  fowls  just  as  much  as  good  combs,  strong  undercolor  or 
straight   barring.     A   Wyandotte   male   that   lacks    a   certain 


338  AMERICAX  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

amount  of  style  should  be  rejected  just  as  quickly  as  one  that 
fails  in  undercolor,  and  any  male  that  does  not  possess  the 
attribute  of  smoothness  of  feathei  should  not  be  considered 
long  as  a  candidate  for  the  head  of  a  breeding  yard.  So  much 
for  condition  and  heredity.  Do  not  accept  the  testimony  of 
others,  rather  make  careful  observations  along  these  lines  if 
you  wish  to  develop  a  line  of  winning  specimens. 

Fresh  Plumaged  Birds  Win. — Young  birds  that  have  just 
attained  maturity  are  fresh  and  bright  in  plumage  and  fresh 
and  bright  birds  are  certainly  attractive  and  for  that  reason 
are  the  ones  that  usually  win.  This  necessitates  rapid  growth 
and  that  demands  free  range  and  skillful,  judicious  feeding. 
This  is  the  problem,  then,  to  solve-  how  are  some  birds  to  be 
pushed  forward  and  some  held  back,  so  that  the  entire  string 
may  be  shown  in  uniformly  perfect  condition? 

Right  here  is  where  the  writer  will  prove  disappointing, 
because  he  knows  of  no  magic  that  will  mature  the  immature 
or  freshen  the  fading  colors  of  those  that  are  past  prime. 

The  Art  of  Conditioning  No  Mystery. — There  are  a  few 
who  cling  to  the  idea  that  there  are  sublime  methods  for 
accomplishing  anything.  There  are  a  few  who  believe  that 
winning  specimens  are  made  so  by  occult  means.  Were  we 
to  find  some  agent  which  would  efifect  such  a  marvelous  trans- 
formation in  our  flocks,  we  should  have  accomplished  no  less 
than  the  alchemists  of  old  undertook  when  they  sought  to  find 
the  Philosopher's  stone,  a  reagent  that  would  form  a  panacea 
as  well  as  transmute  the  baser  metals  into  gold.  As  well 
dream  the  dreams  of  the  old  alchemists  as  to  expect  to  make 
winning  show  birds  by  any  except  the  most  thorough  processes 
of  nature. 

A  prominent  breeder  asked  another  at  one  of  the  New  York 
shows  how  he  managed  to  bring  such  a  good  conditioned  string 
of  cock  birds  to  the  show  year  after  year.  "Would  it  be  asking 
too  much  to  tell  me?"  said  he.  "Certainly  not,"  replied  the 
other,  "we  just  give  them  ample  range,  good  food  and  keep  the 
lice  from  them."  The  questioner  made  it  very  clear  that  he 
did  not  credit  the  answer.  He  was  evidently  a  believer  in  the 
occult.  But  as  a  fact,  aside  from  selecting  for  breeding  year 
after  year  very  smooth  males,  that  successful  exhibitor  did 
nothing  more  than  he  suggested  to  his  questioner,  who  was 
and  still  is  one  of  the  largest  breeders  of  his  variety. 

The  Pleasing  Bird  Wins. — The  question  naturally  arises, 
"Why  is  a  winning  bird?"    The  answer  would  seem  to  be  one 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  339 

that  most  nearly  meets  the  requirements  of  the  Standard  of 
Perfection.  But  is  it?  It  is  not  always,  even  with  the  most 
conscientious  and  the  keenest  judges.  There  is  in  some  birds  a 
certain  quality  that  is  very  hard  to  describe  unless  we  limit 
that  description  to  one  word  and  call  it  the  "catchy"  quality, 
or  the  "pleasing"  bird,  as  it  is  expressed  by  the  more  refined 
exponents  of  the  craft. 

Under  our  present  mode  of  comparison  judging,  and  this 
mode  has  its  advantages  as  well  as  its  drawbacks,  the  order 
seems  to  be  that  the  catchy  or  pleasing  specimens  are  picked 
out  and  then  examined  for  defects  according  to  the  judges' 
interpretation  of  the  Standard.  Under  this  method  the  bird 
in  poor  condition  and  the  one  that  has  not  catchy  qualities 
fare  alike,  being  passed  by  while  the  pleasing  bird,  if  he  has 
no  glaring  faults,  has  a  good  chance  to  win. 

Too  Close  Cooping. — There  are  several  methods  of  more 
or  less  merit  of  fitting  for  the  show  room.  The  best  is  to  let 
the  bird  fit  itself;  the  poorest,  and  that  which  is  more  gener- 
ally used,  consists  in  confining  the  bird  to  an  exhibition  cage 
two  or  three  feet  square  and  either  starving  it  or  stuffing  it  as 
the  fancy  of  the  owner  dictates.  In  such  quarters,  this  bird 
has  the  pleasure  of  moping  around  for  two  or  three  weeks.  It 
has  a  clean  coop,  perhaps,  plenty  of  the  best  of  food  and  a 
nice  bright  tin  cup  to  drink  out  of,  but  after  all  that  has  been 
done,  this  bird  is  being  subjected  to  the  most  unnatural  life 
that  a  fowl  could  live.  If  the  cage  is  kept  clean,  the  bird  is 
clean  also,  but  its  appetite  soon  diminishes,  its  digestion  is, 
soon  disordered,  its  feathers  soon  become  rough,  and  its  head 
loses  color.  The  bird  deteriorates  from  the  moment  that 
it  is  put  into  the  cage.  The  only  advantage  is  that  you  have  a 
tame  bird.  Unless  it  is  endowed  with  an  unusual  amount  of 
vitality,  it  has  become  so  lifeless  and  docile  that  it  should  not 
even,  in  many  cases,  be  admitted  to  classification  in  the  gal- 
linaceous division.  Of  all  the  idiotic  methods  that  poultrymen 
employ,  this  is  the  most  stupid  and  foolish. 

Range  the  Best  Conditioner. — Those  who  have  exhibited 
at  the  early  winter  shows,  say  the  early  part  of  December  or 
the  latter  part  of  November,  may  have  been  favored  by  one 
of  our  occasional  warm  autumns,  when  the  weather  permitted 
keeping  the  birds  out  on  the  summer  runs.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances the  birds  probably  went  into  the  shows  in  the  best 
possible  condition.  If  such  is  not  your  experience,  it  is  the 
experience  of  others.     It  should  be,  therefore,  our  aim  to  pro- 


340  AMERICAN   POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

vide  the  candidates  for  show  honors  with  as  near  natural 
conditions  as  the  usual  severe  winter  weather  and  sometimes 
several  feet  of  snow  will  permit.  The  greatest  benefits  that  a 
bird  can  receive  are,  of  course,  derived  from  range  conditions, 
but  under  the  conditions  mentioned,  range  is  out  of  the  ques- 
tion. How,  then,  can  we  supply  a  substitute?  By  affording 
the  bird  a  chance  for  exercise  and  by  compelling  it  to  exercise 
if  it  is  not  inclined,  and  by  supplying  those  things  that  con- 
finement and  the  season  of  the  year  rob  it  of.  Added  to  these, 
there  are  some  artificial  methods  that  are  simple  and  harmless 
that  we  shall  speak  of  later. 

Food  and  Exercise. — Take  the  case  of  a  young  male  bird 
that  is  to  be  conditioned  for  winter  shows  under  the  usual 
conditions  when  protection  from  the  weather  is  necessary  and 
confinement  unavoidable.  Growth  must  be  promoted  and 
health  of  the  most  vigorous  kind  maintained.  The  quarters 
are  the  first  essential.  He  should  be  penned  by  himself,  with 
one  female,  or  some  younger  cockerels.  In  general  the  larger 
the  pen,  the  better,  but  one  eight  feet  by  nine,  and  even 
smaller,  will  answer  in  most  instances. 

The  floor  should  be  of  dry,  clean  sand  if  possible  to  obtain 
it  at  a  reasonable  amount  of  expense  or  trouble,  covered  with 
a  litter  of  dry  straw.  The  straw  need  not  be  cut,  as  the  birds, 
if  properly  trained,  will  break  it  up  in  a  short  while.  This 
litter  should  be  from  two  to  four  inches  deep,  varying  with 
the  size  of  the  birds ;  the  larger  the  birds  the  deeper  the  litter. 

The  Feeding  Method. — In  the  morning  throw  in  a  small 
handful  of  scratch  feed,  scattering  it  well.  After  an  hour  of 
brisk  exercise,  give  some  warm  mash  but  do  not  allow  them 
too  much,  because  if  not  hungry,  the  birds  will  not  exercise. 
A  heaping  teaspoonful  or  two  is  about  all  that  the  average 
bird  will  consume  without  becoming  inactive,  and  unless  he 
eats  this  eagerly  and  rapidly,  it  is  too  much.  An  hour  or  two 
later  scatter  more  scratch  feed  and  set  them  to  work  again. 
If  the  birds  are  immature  and  you  wish  to  force  them  a  little, 
feed  another  small  amount  of  mash  at  noon.  An  hour  later 
a  few  kernels  of  small  grains  will  induce  more  exercise,  while 
for  the  evening  meal,  a  generous  supply  of  good  grain  should 
be  allowed. 

It  should  be  kept  constantly  in  mind  that  rapid  growth  de- 
pends upon  the  amount  of  food  the  bird  can  consume  and 
assimilate,  and  that  exercise  stimulates  the  appetite,  aids 
digestion  and  increases  assimilation  of  the  foods  consumed, 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  341 

hardens  the  muscles  and  promotes  the  most  rugged  health 
and  vigor;  which  facts  sufficiently  explain  the  reasons  for 
feeding  often  in  small  portions. 

Green  food,  he  should  have  a  little  of  and  but  a  little.  Grit 
and  oyster  shells  he  should  have  in  abundance  at  all  times. 

A  Good  Mash  Makes  Flesh. — A  mash  helps  the  bird  to 
acquire  flesh,  but  too  much  of  it  overloads  the  crop  and, 
hunger  being  satisfied,  the  bird  refuses  to  exercise;  conse- 
quently, it  will  not  eat  as  much  nor  can  its  system  assimilate 
as  much.  The  ingredients  of  the  mash  may  vary  somewhat. 
Cornmeal  and  bran  may  be  mixed  with  a  very  small  quantity 
of  white  flour  middlings  in  such  a  proportion  that  the  mash 
is  a  substantial  but  not  a  sticky  mass.  It  should  be  mixed 
with  boiling  water,  merely  hot  water  does  not  do.  It  must 
cook  to  get  the  desired  effect.  To  that  end  it  should  be  packed 
closely  together  and  covered  for  a  time.  After  standing  for 
half  an  hour,  uncover  and  stir.  Allow  it  to  cool  until  it  is 
warm  but  not  hot ;  then  you  have  the  food  for  a  meal  that  the 
fowls  will  relish. 

For  scratch  feed,  any  of  the  small  grains  will  do.  Oats 
are  very  good,  so  is  wheat  if  you  are  not  using  it  for  a  night 
feed.  But  the  prepared  scratch  feeds  are  to  be  preferred 
above  all,  if  they  are  made  of  good  grain,  for  two  reasons : 
first,  for  the  variety  they  supply,  but  principally  for  the  fact 
that  the  grains  are  cracked  into  small  bits,  which  make  the 
fowls  do  the  maximum  amount  of  work  for  the  minimum 
amount  of  food. 

For  the  final  feed  at  night,  nothing  compares  with  wheat 
of  the  best  quality.  This  is  the  main  food,  but  may  be  alter- 
nated with  barley  with  good  results.  For  fowls  that  are 
inclined  to  get  too  fat,  barley  is  preferable  to  wheat. 

Forcing  Immature  Birds. — Birds  that  are  very  immature 
and  that  it  seems  advisable  to  force  along  as  fast  as  possible 
may  take  a  quite  different  ration  from  those  that  are  grown 
or  have  ample  time  to  grow.  An  excellent  mash  may  be  made 
as  follows :  Put  hamburg  steak  to  boil  in  cold  water,  allow 
it  to  boil  until  the  amount  of  water  is  small,  and  then  thicken 
with  cornmeal  and  a  little  bran.  This  may  be  fed  once  a  day, 
but  not  in  such  quantities  that  the  bird  is  forced  off  his  feet. 
This  bird  should  be  kept  scratching  as  the  others,  but  he  may, 
if  hearty,  be  fed  more  heavy  grains.  A  good  variety  will  force 
a  bird  along  faster  than  a  limited  diet. 

A  very  appetizing  meal  is  made  of  broken  crackers  and 
cornmeal   and   bran.     The   birds   like   this,   especially   if  the 


342  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

crackers  are  the  sweet  kind,  and  if  not,  they  can  be  sweetened 
with  sugar  or  molasses.  The  value  of  the  food  as  a  weight 
producer  may  be  further  enhanced  by  mixing  with  scalded 
milk.  It  should  not  be  forgotten  that  these  birds  must  be 
growing  feathers  and  that  it  is  sometimes  necessary  to  aid 
them  in  this.  Nothing  that  I  know  of  is  any  better  for  aiding 
feather  development  than  dessicated  fish.  A  little  may  be 
added  to  one  of  the  mashes  each  day. 

The  Best  Forcing  Menu.- — To  make  myself  plain,  the  best 
forcing  feed  consists  of  the  broken  scratch  feeds,  the  sweet 
cracker  mash  and  the  beef  and  meal  mash  with  wheat  or 
mixed  grains  for  the  hearty  meal  at  night.  In  very  cold 
weather  a  few  kernels  of  whole  corn  might  be  thrown  the 
birds,  after  the  evening  meal  and  the  last  thing  before  they 
go  to  roost.  A  very  little  buckwheat  may  be  added  to  the 
grain  mixture. 

Feeding  for  Color. — -With  reference  to  feeding,  two  classes 
of  birds  might  be  considered,  as  each  class  must  be  fed  in  a 
different  manner.  They  may  be  divided  into  white  birds  and 
others.  The  methods  of  feeding  each  differ,  but  the  methods 
that  have  already  been  described  are  tolerably  well  suited  to 
either  class.  These  methods  can  be  modified  somewhat  and 
are  then  better  adapted  to  each  of  the  special  classes. 

Feeding  White  Birds. — By  white  birds,  I  refer  to  those  that 
have  white  in  their  plumage,  not  necessarily  only  the  solid 
white  varieties.  Silver,  Silver  Penciled,  and  Columbian 
Wyandottes,  for  instance,  should  be  fed  precisely  as  pure 
white  birds  are. 

It  is  a  generally  recognized  principle  that  clear  white  color, 
often  described  as  pearl  white,  chalk  white,  or  dead  white, 
cannot  be  obtained  in  its  clearness  and  purity  when  allowing 
these  white  birds  oily  foods.  Therefore  yellow  corn,  meat 
scraps,  meat  fats,  or  any  foods  of  an  oily  nature  are  excluded 
from  their  diet.  Those  who  wish  to  feed  meat  and  are  still 
very  cautious,  may  boil  fresh  beef,  allow  the  liquor  to  stand 
and  cool,  when  the  fat  may  be  skimmed  off.  The  meat  and 
broth  may  be  reboiled  and  stirred  into  the  mash,  which  has 
already  been  thoroughly  mixed.  Cut  green  bone  should  be 
treated  in  the  same  manner,  if  fed  to  white  or  partially  white 
birds.  After  boiling  both  lean  meat  and  green  cut  bone,  you 
will  find  an  amount  of  fat  that  will  surprise  you. 

Foods  That  Develop  Gloss. — For  the  varieties  which  re- 
quire a  glossy  plumage,  the  fats  and  oils  are  a  great  help  if 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  343 

not  an  absolute  necessity  in  getting  birds  of  certain  colors  into 
good  condition.  The  best  foods  to  produce  gloss  are  corn, 
buckwheat,  sunflower  seed,  beef  scraps  and  beef  tallow.  These, 
with  the  single  exception  of  corn,  cannot  be  used  in  quantity 
or  as  staple  foods,  as  they  "age"  the  plumage  and  impair 
digestion  if  given  in  excess.  A  wonderfully  glossy  plumage 
may  be  produced  in  a  remarkably  short  time  if  conditions  are 
favorable.  Besides  oily  food,  plenty  of  sunlight  and  housing 
conditions  that  embrace  dryness  and  very  moderate  tempera- 
tures are  necessary. 

Constant  attention  wherever  administered  is  beneficial  to 
fowls  for  whatever  purpose  kept,  and  particularly  so  to  fowls 
that  are  being  conditioned  for  shows,  but  is  not  absolutely 
necessary.  Many  exhibitors  are  so  situated  that  they  cannot 
attend  their  fowls  during  the  day.  I  believe  that  the  best 
method  they  can  pursue  is  to  feed  the  mash  late  in  the  after- 
noon, and  in  the  morning,  give  the  birds  grain  in  deep  but 
light  litters  to  scratch  for  during  the  day.  Many  contrivances 
may  be  devised  to  induce  or  even  compel  exercise ;  for  instance, 
a  cabbage  may  be  hung  so  high  that  they  will  have  to  jump 
a  little  to  reach  it.  Grains  may  be  fed  in  automatic  feeders 
in  connection  with  deep  litters,  etc. 

Grouping  the  Birds  to  Be  Conditioned. — The  grouping  or 
arranging  of  the  birds  with  relation  to  their  association  with 
one  another  has  oftentimes  much  to  do  with  their  develop- 
ment. A  male  put  alone  sometimes  loses  his  interest  in  life, 
but  not  always.  If  he  is  a  cock  bird,  one  or  two  hens  that  are 
active  and  alert  should  be  placed  with  him.  If  it  is  necessary 
to  raise  his  weight,  feed  him  alone,  once  or  more  daily.  A 
cockerel  may  be  allowed  to  run  with  one  or  two  hens,  but  if 
he  is  not  too  far  along,  it  is  preferable  to  allow  the  society  of 
two  to  four  younger  cockerels.  If  he  maltreats  them,  there  are 
but  two  alternatives  left,  the  society  of  females,  or  isolation. 
Young  males,  not  too  far  along,  generally  do  best  in  flocks  of 
six  to  eight,  but  these  must  have  grown  up  together.  Even 
then  the  time  will  come  when  they  must  be  closely  watched. 
At  the  first  signs  of  fighting,  both  birds  must  be  removed. 
Females  can  be  kept  in  groups  of  four  to  six.  Quarrelsome 
females  must  be  kept  alone,  as  they  are  sure  to  ruin  the  good 
appearance  of  their  companions. 

Taming  the  Show  Bird. — A  show  bird  should  be  tame,  so 
that  it  does  not  become  frightened  when  handled.  The  ad- 
vantage that  a  bird  that  will  pose  while  the  judge  is  in  front  of 


344  AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

the  cage  and  handling  it,  has  over  one  that  gets  all  out  of 
shape  the  moment  the  judge  touches  it,  is  obvious.  While 
continuous  cooping  of  any  fowl  is  a  crime  against  good  condi- 
tion and  even  against  good  sense,  a  half-hour  a  day  or  so  is 
necessary  for  all  candidates  for  show  honors.  The  bird  may 
be  tamed  quickly  while  cooped  by  offering  tid-bits  such  as 
meat  and  kernels  of  whole  corn  from  the  hand.  By  stroking 
with  the  hand,  the  bird  can  be  taught  the  correct  pose  for  the 
show  coop. 

Washing  the  White  Fowls. — In  these  days  of  strong  com- 
petition, an  unwashed  white  bird  is  practically  debarred  from 
winning.  An  unwashed  bird,  be  it  ever  so  white,  looks  very 
cheap  beside  a  well  washed  one  of  much  inferior  color.  This 
is  a  branch  of  the  industry  in  which  a  certain  few  have 
become  so  proficient  that  it  is  practically  impossible  for 
anyone  not  an  expert  in  this  line  to  defeat  them.  There  are 
many  soaps  and  preparations  used  for  washing  white  fowls, 
but  Ivory  soap  and  soap-bark  are  the  most  generally  used. 
The  best  washers  thoroughly  lather  the  birds  to  the  skin,  and 
use  two  rinse  waters.  The  last  water  contains  a  very  little 
blueing.  This  will  show  in  the  feathers  if  too  much  is  used 
and  beginners  are  almost  sure  to  use  too  much.  If  not  thor- 
oughly rinsed,  so  that  all  the  soapy  water  is  removed,  the 
feathers  will  curl  and  crinkle. 

In  late  years  much  is  hinted  at  concerning  the  use  of 
bleaching  agents  that  bleach  a  creamy  or  yellow  bird,  other- 
wise fine,  so  that  it  becomes  a  winner.  No  doubt,  hydrogen 
peroxide,  the  active  agent  of  which  is  a  free  atom  of  oxygen, 
is  used  to  a  certain  extent.  So  is  ammonia  and  other  cleaning 
agents.  Their  value  lies  more  in  their  power  to  remove  stains 
and  dirt  than  in  any  real  bleaching  process  that  takes  place. 

The  process  of  drying  is  very  important  and  is  in  itself  an 
art.  The  most  effective  method  of  whitening  a  bird  is  to 
repeat  the  washings.  Persistency  in  this  counts  as  in  every- 
thing else. 

The  best  treatment  for  the  comb,  face  and  wattles  of  a 
perfectly  healthy  bird  is  to  wash  in  soap  and  water,  dry  and 
let  alone.  When  the  face  does  not  show  good  color,  massage 
and  treat  with  a  very  small  amount  of  vaseline.  To  keep  the 
color  in  the  face,  repeat  the  massage  with  a  small  bit  of 
vaseline.  This  treatment  is  simple  and  will  bring  more  color 
than  would  be  supposed.  There  are  many  lotions  and  draw- 
ing, burning  liquids  that  are  applied,  but  they  are  all  at  best 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  345 

but  temporarily  efficient.     A  short  while  after  the  application, 
the  head  possesses  less  color  than  before. 

Cleaning  Shanks  and  Toes. — The  shanks  and  toes  should 
be  washed  in  warm  soap-suds,  dried,  and  then  treated  with 
cottonseed  oil,  vaseline,  or  something  of  that  nature.  When 
there  is  much  dirt  under  the  scales,  it  should  be  removed, 
which  can  best  be  accomplished  with  an  ordinary  wooden 
toothpick  dampened  with  some  cleansing  liquid.  Many  shanks 
and  toes  are  improved  by  brushing  dry.  with  a  stiff  brush 
before  using  the  soap  and  water.     (A.  C.  S.) 


WASHING  AND  CONDITIONING  WHITE  BIRDS  FOR 
THE  SHOW  ROOM. 

Washing  white  birds  properly  presents  one  of  the  greatest 
difficulties  to  the  amateur  fancier.  To  get  any  bird  into  the 
show  room  in  perfect  condition,  is  really  quite  an  art;  and 
white  birds  present  the  additional  problem  of  washing.  There 
is,  however,  no  reason  why  anybody,  who  is  careful  and  pains- 
taking, can  not  show  white  birds  in  good  condition.  Birds 
other  than  white  seldom  require  washing,  except  where  a  bird 
has  become  very  much  stained  or  soiled,  in  which  case  a  care- 
ful washing  will  improve  them.  The  following  instructions 
about  temperature  of  water,  in  drying  room,  and  other  con- 
ditions, will,  if  carefully  followed,  bring  success. 

Coop  Training.- — All  birds  that  are  to  be  shown,  whether 
they  are  to  be  washed  or  not,  should  be  cooped  up  in  cages 
similar  to  those  used  in  the  shows.  Coop  them  up  for  about 
three  days,  so  they  may  become  accustomed  to  the  cage  and 
to  being  handled  by  their  attendant.  Then  put  them  back  into 
their  usual  run  for  a  few  days.  Alternating  in  this  way,  they 
will  get  the  necessary  coop  training  and  show-manners  with- 
out becoming  stale  from  too  long  confinement  in  small  quar- 
ters. Unless  the  bird  has  some  such  preliminary  training,  to- 
gether with  such  special  feeding  as  his  condition  requires,  no 
matter  how  excellent  the  wash,  he  will  not  appear  at  his  best. 
This  preliminary  training  should  extend  over  a  period  of  about 
two  or  three  weeks. 

Equipment. — Birds  should  be  washed  from  forty-eight  to 
sixty  hours  before  they  are  shipped  to  the  show  room.  If  you 
are  going  to  wash  many  birds,  a  rubber  apron  and  rubber 
boots  will  be  necessary.     The  details  of  washing  white  birds 


346  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

are  as  follows:  Start  with  three  ordinary  wash  tubs  about 
half  full  of  water  at  a  temperature  of  from  103  to  110  degrees. 
Birds  can  be  washed  in  a  room  at  a  temperature  of  about  70 
degrees,  which  is  as  warm  as  an  attendant  can  work  in  com- 
fortably. 

The  Process.^Grasp  the  bird  firmly  by  the  legs,  lower  him 
into  the  water,  and  begin  washing  by  lathering  him  with  a 
cake  of  soap.  Soap  counteracts  the  oil  in  the  bird's  feathers 
and  allows  the  water  to  penetrate  to  the  skin.  Be  careful  in 
handling  the  feathers  until  you  get  them  thoroughly  wet ; 
afterwards  you  can  rub  them  enough  to  build  up  a  heavy 
lather  all  over  the  bird,  very  similar  to  the  process  of  sham- 
pooing the  hair.  Then  rinse  this  lather  out,  and  repeat  the 
same  process.  If  the  bird  seems  very  dirty,  give  him  even  a 
third  lathering.  The  rinsing  of  the  heavy  lather  out  of  the 
feathers  seems  to  carry  all  the  dirt  and  stain  away.  Then  go 
over  the  bird's  comb,  face,  wattles,  and  legs  with  a  nail-brush 
and  heavy  lather.  Also  scrub  the  wings  and  any  stained  spot 
on  the  bird's  plumage  with  the  nail-brush.  Then  thoroughly 
rinse  the  bird  successively  in  the  second  and  third  tubs  of 
water.  You  can  wash  from  four  to  six  birds,  according  to 
how  dirty  they  are,  before  changing  the  water.  Then  empty 
all  three  tubs  and  start  again  with  clean  water. 

The  Water. — The  character  of  the  water  you  use  will  influ- 
ence results  to  a  considerable  extent.  Soft  water,  that  is  also 
white,  will  give  better  results  than  hard  water.  Sometimes 
water  contains  iron  or  other  mineral  substances  that  affect  the 
color  and  the  finish  of  the  feathers.  You  can  generally  find 
suitable  water  in  every  locality,  by  a  little  effort,  or  you  can 
catch  rain  water,  melt  snow  or  overcome  the  difficulty  in 
some  way.  Borax  or  ammonia  arc  sometimes  used  to  soften 
hard  water,  and  they  help  some ;  but  all  such  agencies  have  a 
tendency  to  injure  the  fabric  of  the  feather,  and  you  do  not 
get  quite  the  beautiful  satin  finish  with  anything  but  pure, 
naturally  soft  water  and  some  mild  soap.  All  of  these  things 
have  to  be  carefully  considered. 

Blueing. — Until  very  recently,  all  white  birds  were  blued 
slightly  in  the  last  rinsing,  and  this  practice  was  used  by  all 
conditioners  for  many  years,  but  is  gradually  being  abandoned, 
for  the  reason  that  otherwise  well  conditioned  birds  were  left 
out  of  the  awards  every  year  on  account  of  being  too  blue, 
streaked  with  blue,  or  in  some  way  presenting  a  bad  appear- 
ance on  this  account.    If  done  just  right,  this  may  add  slight- 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  347 

ly  to  the  apparent  whiteness  of  the  bird ;  but  it  is  impossible 
to  give  explicit  directions  for  blueing,  for  the  reason  that  water 
from  different  sources  requires  different  amounts  of  blueing  to 
produce  the  best  results,  and  the  different  blueings  that  are 
sold  throughout  the  country  differ  very  materially  in  strength 
and  composition.  So,  if  you  adopt  this  practice,  you  will  have 
to  experiment  beforehand  as  to  the  amount  of  blueing  you  will 
use.  The  amount  that  produces  good  results  in  the  laundry  is 
generally  also  about  right  for  birds. 

Drying. — After  the  bird  is  washed  and  rinsed,  put  him 
into  a  coop  similar  to  those  used  in  the  show  room  ;  and  if 
possible,  one  having  a  wire  netting  bottom,  so  that  he  can 
drain  out  for  about  fifteen  minutes.  Then  transfer  him  to  a 
coop  in  a  room  where  the  temperature  is  from  85  to  90  degrees. 
He  will  dry  out  there  in  proper  shape  in  three  or  four  hours. 
Then  gradually  reduce  the  temperature  to  about  70  degrees, 
at  which  temperature  the  room  should  be  kept  for  eight  or 
ten  hours  longer.  After  that  he  should  be  able  to  stand 
normal  temperature  as  before  washing. 

Some  of  the  larger  farms  have  special  rooms  fitted  up  for 
washing  and  drying,  arranged  so  that  they  can  have  rooms  at 
different  temperatures.  Lacking  this  equipment,  you  can  get 
about  the  same  results  by  moving  your  birds  to  and  from  the 
fire  or  other  source  of  heat.  You  can  tie  a  thermometer  to 
the  front  of  the  coop  in  which  your  bird  is  drying,  and  keep 
him  in  about  the  correct  temperature  in  that  way.  To  a  cer- 
tain extent,  the  actions  of  the  bird  indicate  the  proper  tem- 
perature ;  as,  when  he  is  shivering,  get  him  closer  to  the  fire ; 
and,  if  he  begins  to  pant,  it  is  time  to  move  him  back.  Indi- 
vidual birds  differ  as  to  the  amount  of  heat  they  need  and  can 
stand ;  and  they  will  indicate,  to  the  observant  attendant,  the 
proper  procedure. 

Drying  Long  Tails. — In  washing  a  Leghorn  or  any  bird 
that  has  long  sickles,  it  is  well  to  fan  his  tail  out  after  he  has 
been  drying  about  an  hour,  or  just  as  the  feathers  begin  to 
web.  Let  one  person  hold  the  bird,  and  an  assistant  fan  the 
tail  for  about  fifteen  minutes.  Otherwise  the  sickles  are  liable 
to  dry  twisted  or  to  come  with  a  poor  finish  on  the  edge. 

Impossible  Specimens. — Some  birds  have  a  type  of  feather- 
ing that  does  not  improve  by  washing.  Anyone  who  has 
washed  many  birds  can  detect  this  at  a  glance,  as  a  thinness 
of  the  fabric  of  the  feather,  as  we  express  it.  This  style  of 
feathering  seems  to  go  to  pieces  during  the  washing  and  dry- 


348  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

ing-  process,  shrivel  up  and  finally  presents  an  unsatisfactory 
appearance.  So  it  is  always  well  to  select,  train  and  wash  a 
few  more  birds  than  you  actually  intend  to  show.  This 
precaution  will  save  you  disappointment,  should  anything  go 
wrong  with  any  of  the  birds  up  to  the  moment  that  judging 
actually  begins. 

One  of  the  objections  to  washing  birds  for  exhibition  is 
that  the  same  bird  can  seldom  be  shown  more  than  twice 
during  a  single  season  ;  and  sometimes  but  once,  if  you  want 
to  get  the  very  best  results.  The  reason  for  this  is  that  wash- 
ing and  drying  takes  a  good  deal  of  the  natural  oil  out  of  the 
feathers,  which  causes  them  to  become  brittle  and  they  will 
begin  to  break  up,  and  eventually  to  lose  the  natural  sheen  on 
the  feathers  which  makes  them  look  so  attractive.  However, 
any  bird  that  is  to  be  used  for  breeding  should  not  be  shown 
more  than  once ;  because,  in  conditioning,  washing,  and  show- 
ing the  bird,  getting  him  home  and  rested,  etc.,  and  ready  to  go 
into  the  breeding  pen,  will  occupy  three  weeks  or  a  month. 
During  this  time  the  bird  has  been  inside  in  a  warm  tempera- 
ture, and  it  is  something  of  a  shock  to  his  system  to  go  back  in- 
to a  breeding  pen  in  what  may  possibly  be  zero  weather.  Still 
a  strong,  vital  bird  will  generally  stand  this  for  one  trip ;  but, 
when  you  keep  repeating  this  for  show  after  show,  the  bird 
becomes  softened  and  loses  his  natural  resistance  to  cold,  with 
the  result  that  he  contracts  a  cold  or  in  some  way  gets  out  of 
condition.  So,  for  this  more  vital  reason,  birds  that  are  valu- 
able as  breeders  really  should  be  shown  but  once  in  a  sea- 
son. It  is  hard  and  cruel  to  keep  a  bird  on  the  jump  from 
one  show  to  another  from  August  until  late  in  February. 
This  practice  is  generally  the  result  of  greed  or  ignorance. 
However,  such  a  practice  brings  its  own  penalty;  because, 
after  such  treatment,  your  fine  bird  will  not  breed  you  the 
sound,  vigorous  stock  that  he  otherwise  would. 

To  Remove  Stains. — If  you  should  find  a  grease  spot  on 
one  of  your  birds  that  did  not  come  out  in  the  wash,  you  can 
remove  it  by  using  gasoline ;  but  you  must  exercise  great  care 
in  doing  this.  Take  the  bird  into  the  open  air,  and  do  not 
use  more  than  is  necessary.  It  is  possible  that  you  might 
just  pick  some  birds  off  inside. 

Feeding. — After  the  birds  are  dry,  feed  nothing  but  hard 
corn  until  after  they  are  judged.  Be  sure  that  you  have  suit- 
able shipping  coops. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  349 

Shipping. — A  good  many  birds  lose  their  chance  of  winning 
by  poor  shipping  in  transit  to  the  shows.  Inspect  the  coops 
to  see  that  they  are  high  enough  that  the  bird  can  easily  stand 
upright;  also  see  that  no  sharp  nail  points  are  exposed  on  the 
inside,  which  may  tear  the  bird's  comb  or  otherwise  damage 
him. 

For  the  ordinary  show  where  competition  is  not  very 
strong,  perhaps  all  this  preparation  is  not  absolutely  neces- 
sary. It  is  possible  that  you  might  just  pick  some  birds  off 
the  roost  the  night  before,  and  get  away  with  it ;  but  it  is  a 
good  plan  to  always  show  your  birds  in  their  best  possible 
condition.  The  more  earnest  effort  you  put  into  the  poultry 
business,  the  better  your  standing  will  be  with  the  poultry 
fraternity,  and  the  more  pleasure  and  ultimate  profit  you  will 
get  out  of  it.  (M.  L.  C.) 


CHAPTER  III. 

SHIPPING  TO  SHOWS. 

CONSIDERABLE  attention  should  be  given  this,  one  of 
the  necessary  steps  in  showing  fowls.  Though  it  is  but 
a  single  step  and  a  short  one  compared  with  the  number 
and  length  of  time  it  takes  to  grow  and  to  condition  exhibition 
fowls,  yet  it  is  fully  as  important  as  any  of  the  previous  or  sub- 
sequent steps  in  the  process  because  of  the  dangers  involved, 
due  to  unusual,  strange  conditions,  such  as  confinement,  re- 
striction of  feed  and  water,  and  the  inadaptability  of  some 
fowls  to  such  changes  in  the  routine  of  life,  to  exposure  to 
weather  conditions,  extreme  in  either  heat  or  cold,  to  sudden 
changes  varying  from  one  extreme  to  the  other,  as  when  taken 
from  a  heated  car  in  cold  weather  in  which  they  have  perhaps 
been  packed  all  too  closely  together,  and  transferred  in  un- 
protected trucks  to  other  transfer  points  or  to  the  show  room. 
Shipments  Dependent  Upon  Three  Conditions. — From  the 
foregoing  it  is  apparent  that  three  conditions  are  highly  de- 
sirable. First,  that  the  bird  be  fortified  to  withstand  these 
changes  of  temperature  and  weather.  The  best  means  of 
fortification  against  these  is  to  select  naturally  rugged  birds 
that  are  in  excellent  health  and  conditioned  to  withstand 
these  changes.  This  is,  however,  the  subject  of  another 
chapter. 


350  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Second,  that  the  style  of  shipping  coop  provided  furnishes 
as  much  protection  as  possible  against  these  changes  and  at 
the  same  time  allows  a  sufficient  supply  of  pure  air  to  insure 
the  good  health  and  condition  of  the  occupant  or  occupants. 
Because  the  shipping  coop  does  not  allow  always  for  a  suffi- 
cient supply  of  fresh  air,  the  danger  of  overheating,  particu- 
larly in  express  cars,  is  also  incurred. 

Construction  of  Shipping  Coops. — The  proper  construction 
of  a  suitable  shipping  coop  involves  all  these  questions,  also 
the  question  of  how  much  the  occupant  may  be  confined  with- 
out injury  of  either  health  or  condition. 

Large  and  Small  Coops. — Obviously  when  the  good  ap- 
pearance of  the  bird  counts  for  so  much  it  will  not  do  to  take 
the  slightest  chance  of  injury  even  if  that  injury  merely  con- 
sists of  rubbing  the  plumage  or  the  breaking  of  a  single  prin- 
cipal feather.  Many  claim  that  too  large  coops  involve  more 
and  greater  injuries  in  this  latter  regard  than  smaller  ones. 
The  idea  advanced  is  that  the  bird  breaks  the  feathers  by 
turning  around  in  the  coop  and  that  when  the  coops  are  so 
narrow  as  to  prevent  it,  there  is  less  liability  to  injuries  of 
this  kind.  The  style  of  coops  vary  widely.  One  large  poultry 
show  will  show  scores  of  designs.  Shipping  coops  are  usually 
built  of  wood  or  have  a  framework  of  wood  covered  with  cloth. 

Cloth  Covered  Coops. — Cloth  tears  so  easily  that  express 
companies  will  not  receive  cloth  covered  coops  at  single  rates 
unless  the  wooden  frame  over  which  the  cloth  is  put  is  so  con- 
structed that  it  will  hold  the  bird  even  if  the  cloth  is  not  put  in 
place.  Cloth  covered  coops,  when  the  frame  is  constructed  in 
accordance  with  these  regulations,  are  very  satisfactory  except 
in  extremely  cold  weather.  They  offer  the  advantage  of  good 
ventilation  at  all  times  and.  it  must  be  admitted,  far  too  much 
when  the  weather  is  severe. 

Wooden  Coops. — Wooden  coops  are  without  question  the 
most  often  used  and  the  safest  from  many  points  of  view.  They 
are  certainly  stronger  and  less  liable  to  be  broken  and  it  is  for 
this  reason  that  they  are  most  often  used.  Ventilation  is  the 
difficult  problem  with  wooden  coops.  If  they  are  open  in  con- 
struction the  birds  take  cold  when  left  out  of  doors  or  in  a 
draft  for  any  length  of  time.  If  they  are  closed  the  birds  some- 
times smother  when  large  numbers  are  shipped,  as  they  often 
are  when  poultry  shows  are  being  heM.  This,  of  course,  re- 
sults from  stacking  a  number  of  coops  together.  The  coops  in 
the  center  of  the  stack  or  against  the  wall  receive  an  insuf- 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  351 

ficient  supply  of  air  or  become  overheated.  There  is  no  known 
way  to  prevent  this  occurrence  and  at  the  same  time  properly 
protect  the  birds  against  the  weather,  unless  the  handlers  or 
messengers  of  the  express  company  will  use  reasonable  pre- 
cautions against  overlarge  stacks  and  overheated  cars. 

Material  in  Wooden  Coops. — Wooden  coops,  as  a  usual 
thing,  are  made  with  solid  sides  and  bottom  and  are  left  as 
open  on  the  top  as  possible  and  still  retain  the  bird  or  birds. 
T'he  sides  are  usually  made  of  three-eighths  inch  matched  lum- 
ber and  the  floor  of  one-half  inch,  or  sometimes  thicker  boards. 
A  sufficient  number  of  narrow  strips  cover  the  tops  to  keep  the 
birds  inside. 

Dimension  of  Coops.- — Some  shippers  make  the  top  higher 
at  the  center  than  on  the  sides  to  prevent  setting  other  boxes 
or  packages  which  interfere  with  ventilation  on  top.  Raised 
strips,  one  at  each  end,  an  inch  or  more  thick  are  sometimes 
used  to  prevent  too  close  packing.  This  allows  some  venti- 
lation, enough  in  ordinary  cases.  Open  spaces  at  the  top,  and 
on  the  two  sides,  two  inches  or  a  little  more  in  width  are 
sometimes  left  and  answer  the  purpose  fairly  well. 

Elaborate  coops  of  much  heavier  construction  with  hinged 
or  sliding  tops  are  often  used.  These  afford,  of  course,  rather 
more  protection,  but  because  they  are  much  heavier,  their  use 
increases  the  cost  of  transportation  very  much. 

Shipping  White  Birds. — Birds  of  white  or  light  colored 
plumage  are  usually  shipped  in  coops  that  are  so  constructed 
as  to  protect  them  from  dust  and  dirt.  This  result  can  be  tol- 
erably well  accomplished  by  tacking  cheese  cloth  or  a  similar 
fabric  to  the  top  of  the  coop,  or  by  using  closed  tops  and  pro- 
viding more  ventilation  through  the  sides.  Large  openings 
even  on  the  side  should  be  covered  with  burlap,  cheesecloth,  or 
some  material  that  will  prevent  dangerous  drafts  and  also,  in  a 
measure,  keep  out  the  dirt  and  dust. 

While  there  is  some  danger  of  the  plumage  becoming  soiled 
while  in  transit,  by  the  dust  and  dirt  that  is  in  the  air,  there  is 
also  some  liability  from  the  coop  itself,  if  it  has  been  in  use 
before.  Consequently,  all  coops  should  be  thoroughly  clean 
before  receiving  the  birds.  This  is  a  good  plan  to  follow 
whether  shipping  to  a  show  or  customer. 

The  greatest  danger  to  plumage  aside  from  that  of  breaking 
feathers  is  that  it  will  be  soiled  by  the  droppings.  To  prevent 
this  possibility  as  effectually  as  possible  a  bed  of  some  ab- 
sorbent must  be  provided.    Sawdust  or  planer  shavings  answer 


352  AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

the  purpose  as  well  as  any  material  yet  used,  unless  it  is  a  com- 
bination of  the  same  and  long  straw,  with  the  straw  on  top. 
Clean,  hand-threshed,  rye  straw  is  best  suited  to  this  purpose. 
While  it  is  clean  and  unbroken,  the  droppings  have  a  tendency 
to  fall  through  onto  the  sawdust  or  shavings  which  adhere  to 
them,  absorbing  the  moisture  contained  in  them,  or  covering 
them  with  a  thin  coating  of  whichever  bedding  material  is 
used ;  being  protected  in  this  way  and  by  the  straw  above,  the 
plumage  is  kept  clean.  Unless  shipments  are  very  long,  birds 
shipped  in  coops  fitted  up  in  this  manner  will  arrive  in  excel- 
lent condition  of  plumage,  provided,  of  course,  that  they  start- 
ed in  that  condition. 

Feeding  During  the  Journey, — When  the  journey  is  of  such 
length  that  the  fowls  must  be  confined  to  their  coops  for  more 
than  two  or  three  hours,  food  should  be  supplied.  This  should 
consist  largely  of  the  small  grains,  but  a  supply  of  green  foods, 
which  serve  to  entertain  the  fowls  and  keep  the  digestive  tract 
in  good  order,  is  important  because  the  fowls  must  feel  their 
best  to  look  their  best.  There  is  certainly  a  chance  of  their 
crops  becoming  overfull  if  the  fowls  are  not  accustomed  to 
these  foods.  However,  they  should  have  been  previously  ac- 
customed to  them.  The  green  foods  should  be  of  such  a  nature 
that  it  will  not  soil  the  plumage  and  in  the  case  of  white  birds, 
greens  are  usually  omitted  from  the  bill  of  fare  while  the  birds 
are  in  transit. 

Shells  and  Grit. — A  small  handful  of  oyster  shells  and  grit 
should  be  supplied.  This  is  doubly  essential  because  the 
fowls  will  in  all  probability  be  deprived  of  both  during  the 
show. 

Whether  water  is  necessary  or  not  depends  upon  the  time 
of  confinement  in  the  shipping  coop.  In  cold  weather  birds 
may  be  deprived  of  water  for  twenty-four  hours,  or  even  a 
little  longer,  without  visible  inconvenience  or  discomfort  if 
plenty  of  succulent  food  is  provided.  The  more  succulent  the 
green  feed,  the  longer  the  period  during  which  water  may  be 
withheld.  Without  water  the  fowls  are  less  liable  to  be  soiled 
in  transit  and  usually  arrive  in  much  better  condition  than 
when  water  cups  are  a  part  of  the  coop  fittings.  When  it  is 
necessary  to  supply  water  in  transit,  cups  that  are  partially 
covered  or  have  a  float  should  be  used,  particularly  when  white 
birds  are  shipped.  After  the  birds  have  been  washed  and 
conditioned  for  exhibition,  shippers  of  white  birds  supply 
water  only  when  absolutely  necessary. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  353 

As  the  birds  must  usually  return  in  the  same  coops  as 
those  in  which  they  are  shipped,  labor  and  time  may  be  saved 
by  supplying  enough  grain,  grit  and  shell  to  last  throughout 
the  return  journey. 

Arrangements  for  Shipping. — The  exhibitor  should  first  of 
all  become  acquainted  with  the  dates  of  the  exhibition,  the  first 
day  when  the  exhibition  room  will  be  open  for  birds,  and  the 
last  minute  when  they  will  be  received  for  competition.  The 
most  desirable  time  to  have  them  enter  the  show  room  should 
be  determined,  as  under  certain  conditions  it  is  better  to  have 
them  arrive  at  the  first  possible  moment,  while  under  dififerent 
conditions  one  would  not  want  the  birds  to  arrive  until  the 
very  last  moment. 

Consult  the  Transportation  Agent. — The  transportation 
agent  should  then  be  consulted  and  the  exhibitor  should  be- 
come acquainted  with  the  route,  the  changes  from  one  route  to 
another,  from  one  car  to  another,  and  all  the  changes  involved, 
whether  they  mean  long  delays  and  whether  the  birds  will  be 
exposed  or  kept  in  comfortable  rooms,  etc.  Sometimes  in- 
formation along  these  lines  will  make  an  entire  change  in  the 
shipping  program  advisable,  as  by  so  doing  long  waits,  poor 
connections,  exposure  from  weather  with  chances  of  storms, 
may  be  eliminated,  or  the  chances  of  the  same  greatly  reduced. 
The  best  facilities  in  shipping  should  always  be  sought.  Ex- 
pense should  not  be  the  first  item  considered. 

Travel  with  Your  Birds. — When  possible  to  do  so  without 
incurring  too  great  expense  or  making  too  large  sacrifices  of 
one  nature  or  another,  it  is  advisable  to  travel  not  only  by  the 
same  route  as  the  birds  do  but  by  the  same  train.  The  ad- 
vantages are  many.  A  small  gift  or  kindly  words  will  often 
keep  coops  on  a  level  that  otherwise  would  be  tilted  sharply, 
which  is  of  obvious  advantage  in  preserving  the  good  condi- 
tion of  the  bird's  plumage  as  well  as  its  tranquility,  both  of 
which  are  essentials  when  competition  is  keen.  Express  cars 
are  very  apt  to  be  so  overcrowded  in  the  show  season,  when 
all  coops  are  going  in  one  direction,  that  some  wait ;  your  coop 
need  not  and  probably  will  not  if  you  are  present  to  use  gentle 
suasion.  Safe  and  sane  stacking  is  another  comfort  that  your 
birds  will  enjoy  if  you  travel  with  them,  and  comfort  is  neces- 
sary for  a  highly  conditioned  show  bird  if  it  is  to  remain 
highly  conditioned.  While  it  is  usually  against  the  rules  of 
express  companies,  the  writer  has  often  been  permitted  by 
the  messengers  to  remain  in  the.  car  to  feed,  water  and  in 


354  AMERICAN  POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

some   cases  exercise  the   birds.      Such   attention   is   naturally 
beneficial  on  extended  or  prolonged  trips. 

Many  appreciable  and  obvious  benefits  accrue  if  you  are 
with  your  birds  and  watch  them  every  waking-  hour.  Small 
advantages  tell  in  the  long  run  and  more  likely  than  not,  these 
small  advantages,  just  the  barely  appreciable  things,  will  turn 
the  scale  in  your  favor.     (A.  C.  S.) 


CHAPTER  IV. 

CARE  IN  THE  SHOW  ROOM. 

THK  largest  and  most  prominent  exhibitors  accompany 
their  birds  to  the  show  room  and  remain  with  them 
throughout  the  show  or  hire  a  competent  man  to  do  so. 
The  smaller  exhibitors  do  not  usually  accompany  the  birds  ex- 
cept at  their  respective  local  shows.  It  often  occurs  that  many 
birds  are  shipped  a  great  many  miles  to  important  shows  and 
entrusted  to  the  care  of  individuals  employed  by  the  show 
management.  Very  often  these  employees  are  incompetent 
because  inexperienced  in  either  handling  or  caring  for  birds. 
Undoubtedly,  the  greatest  harm  is  done  by  the  handling  of 
assistants  that  are  inexperienced  and,  very  often,  even  un- 
instructed.  Experienced  help  is  always  hard  to  obtain  for 
temporary  positions,  and  no  exception  to  this  statement  can 
be  made  when  poultrymen  or  even  men  competent  to  handle 
show  specimens,  perhaps  only  for  a  few  brief  minutes,  are 
required.  Because  of  the  effect  upon  their  value  of  even  the 
slightest  injury,  perhaps  merely  the  breaking  of  a  single 
feather,  particularly,  if  such  is  affected  by  a  disqualifying 
clause  and  on  this  account  open  to  suspicion,  it  is  very  de- 
sirable for  an  exhibitor  to  go  with,  stay  with,  care  for  and 
come  home  with  his  birds  when  it  is  possible  for  him  to  do 
so  without  too  great  a  sacrifice  on  his  part.  Besides  the  care- 
ful handling  that  he  can  bestow,  there  are  many  precautions  to 
take  against  exposure  and  accident,  and  manv  things  that  one 
can  do  to  increase  the  chances  of  winning.  That,  to  attend  to 
these  things  is  worth  while,  may  be  soon  proved  to  anyone's 
satisfaction  by  watching  closely  the  movements  of  the  suc- 
cessful and  unsuccessful  exhibitors.  The  time  of  the  former 
class  is  snent  on  their  birds  ;  that  of  the  latter,  generally  in 
social  duties. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  355 

Delivery. — Every  moment  before  judging  is  a  precious  one, 
as  there  is  much  to  be  done  and  much  may  depend  upon  what 
is  done  or  not  done.  First,  the  birds  must  be  located.  If 
they  are  scheduled  to  have  arrived  and  have  not,  the  express 
company  should  be  at  once  notified  and  pressure  applied  to 
bring  about  a  quick  delivery.  As  soon  as  they  are  delivered, 
see  that  they  are  in  a  comfortable  place.  Before  the  birds  are 
put  in  the  exhibition  cages,  the  cages  should  be  cleaned  and 
supplied  with  a  proper  amount  of  bedding,  water,  grain  and 
grit. 

Clean  Cages  Important. — It  is  very  important  to  rub  the 
exhibition  cages  until  free  of  all  dust,  dirt,  or  mould,  especially 
if  you  have  white  or  light  colored  birds  to  exhibit.  Other- 
wise, the  plumage  becomes  so  soiled  in  a  very  few  hours  that 
the  birds  present  a  very  poor  appearance,  compared  to  those 
who  have  been  washed  white  and  kept  clean.  Metal  cages 
especially  should  be  thoroughly  cleaned  before  white  birds 
are  put  in  them.  Old  papers  or  rags  are  suitable  cleaning 
agents,  though  clean  rags  should  be  used  in  the  last  cleaning 
operations  to  insure  its  thoroughness. 

Bedding. — -The  bedding  may  be  planer  shavings,  sawdust 
or  straw,  but  the  first  two  are  most  often  used.  The  bed  or 
litter  should  be  of  sufficient  depth  to  allow  the  birds  to  stand 
comfortably  which  they  can  not  do  on  bare  boards.  From 
one-half  to  one  inch  of  shavings  or  sawdust  should  be  ample, 
but  these  must  be  renewed  from  time  to  time  for  several  reas- 
ons. First,  for  cleanliness  and  sanitation,  which  includes  elim- 
ination of  odors,  offensive  alike  to  patrons  of  the  show  and 
to  the  birds  themselves.  The  ammonia  that  arises  from  un- 
clean litter  or  bedding  is  not  only  disagreeable  but  may  in- 
flame the  otgans  of  the  bird's  nose  and  throat  and  become  the 
cause  of  more  serious  troubles.  Renewal  of  bedding,  daily,  is 
advisable. 

Drinking  Dishes. — Diseases  of  the  mouth,  nose  and  throat 
are  often  transmitted  because  of  unclean  and  non-disinfected 
drinking  dishes.  Before  using  and  before  the  birds  are  caged, 
the  drinking  dishes  should  be  washed  and  disinfected  or  thor- 
oughly scalded,  if  possible. 

Protection  Against  Drafts. — The  doors  to  the  show  room 
are  often  left  open  while  the  birds  are  being  received,  and  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  allow  strong  drafts  in  the  show  room 
itself  or  certain  parts  of  it.  In  locations  exposed  to  drafts, 
the  birds,  if  caged,  must  be  protected  by  covering  the  tops 


356  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

and  possibly  the  front  of  eagles  with  paper,  or  cloth,  during 
that  time,  and  subsequently  if  need  be.  If  the  draft  is  stron|j 
and  the  temperature  low,  the  birds  may  be  allowed  to  eat  and 
drink  in  the  show  cage  and  returned  to  the  shipping  coop  until 
necessary  to  feed  and  water  again,  or  until  conditions  for 
caging  are  more  favorable. 

Change  in  Temperature. — Many  times,  not  as  much  heat 
is  provided  during  the  night  as  during  the  day.  In  such  cases 
it  is  well  to  cover  the  tops  of  the  cages  as  you  are  leaving  for 
the  night.  This  not  only  keeps  the  birds  warmer  but  darkens 
the  cages  besides,  and  the  birds  rest  better.  This  plan  may 
be  carried  farther  and  the  front  of  the  cage  covered  if  the 
temperature  is  so  low  that  it  seems  advisable.  With  birds 
of  nervous  temperament  this  scheme  assists  materially  in  keep- 
ing them  in  good  condition. 

Feeds  and  Feeding. — In  a  large  show  individual  attention 
cannot  be  expected  of  the  regular  show  attendants,  and  in  small 
shows  they  are  not  likely  to  accord  it.  For  this  reason  owners 
or  caretakers  should  take  to  themselves  the  duties  of  feeding 
as  well  as  other  cares.  First,  because  the  ordinary  feeds  of  the 
show  room  lack  variety.  Second,  it  is  by  no  means  certain 
that  feeds  will  be  given  at  the  proper  time.  Third,  feeds  are 
not  always  of  a  suitable  nature,  and  fourth,  not  given  in  the 
right  amounts. 

Variety  is  Necessary. — Show  room  feeding  often  consists  of 
giving  a  supply  of  whole  or  mixed  grains,  usuallv  cracked  or 
whole  corn,  wheat  or  oats,  perhaps  a  mixture  of  all  these  or  of 
any  two,  twice  a  day.  Very  often  this  is  the  entire  bill  of 
fare.  There  is,  consequently,  a  lack  of  meat,  greens,  grit,  shell 
and  mash,  all  of  which  are  necessities  for  a  continuance  of 
normal  digestion.  With  a  restricted  ration,  the  digestive  or- 
gans soon  become  abnormal,  a  condition  that  may  soon  severe- 
ly affect  the  e-ood  appearance  of  the  specimen. 

Meat  and  Greens  in  the  Show  Room. — As  a  rule  feeding  in 
the  show  room  should  not  differ  materially  from  feeding  at 
home.  If  the  birds  have  been  accustomed  to  greens  and  meat 
at  home,  greens  and  meat  should  be  fed  in  the  show  room, 
though  not  necessarily  in  the  same  form.  Substitutes  of  the 
same  general  nature  will  be  relished  for  the  sake  of  variety. 
No  fowl  will  object  to  a  little  Hamburg  steak  or  fresh  meat 
in  preference  to  beef  scraps,  or  to  cabbage  as  a  substitute  for 
alfalfa  or  clover.  There  may  be  a  slight  objection  to  making 
such   substitutions   on   account  of  expense  and  because  the 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  357 

fowls  may  continue  to  demand  such  palatable  foods,  once  they 
have  acquired  a  taste  for  them,  but  if  they  are  weaned  gradu- 
ally, no  harm  will  result.  Lack  of  meat  and  greens  often  re- 
sults in  feather-eating  when  birds  are  shown  together  as  in  the 
breeding  pen.  It  is  a  wise  precaution  to  hang  a  part  of  a  cab- 
bage or  a  bunch  of  lettuce  in  the  top  of  the  cage  which  con- 
tains a  breeding  pen,  of  the  lighter  breeds  particularly,  to 
prevent  this  trouble  and  if  this  is  not  efficacious,  hang  up 
also  a  small  piece  of  fresh  meat.  The  more  busy  fowls  are 
kept,  the  less  feather  picking  is  practiced. 

Grit  and  Shell. — Grit  and  shell  may  not  be  absolutely  nec- 
essary during  a  short  show,  but  a  small  supply  is  often  appre- 
ciated by  the  fowls  and  serves  a  good  and  certainly  not  a 
harmful  purpose. 

Overfeeding  and  Underfeeding. — Overfeeding  is  more  like- 
ly than  not  to  be  practiced  by  the  novice  or  by  the  average  in- 
experienced attendant  unless  he  neglects  to  feed  at  all,  when 
he  practices  underfeeding.  Birds  are  sometimes  underfed,  not 
for  lack  of  feed,  but  because  the  hall  or  the  coop  is  so  dark  that 
they  cannot  see  to  eat.  In  such  cases  they  must  be  moved  to 
the  light  and  fed  regularly,  or  perhaps  given  a  grain,  the  physi- 
cal nature  of  which  makes  it  more  visible  than  that  which 
they  have  been  fed.  Sometimes,  in  small  shows  so  many  birds 
are  confined  in  one  cage  that  it  is  impossible  for  them  to  eat. 
This  is  false  economy  as  the  birds  lose  rapidly  in  both  weight 
and  condition. 

Too  Intensive  Caging. — There  are,  also,  other  disadvant- 
ages in  connection  with  too  intensive  caging.  No  bird  shows 
to  advantage  when  caged  with  others,  even  if  only  one  other, 
except  in  case  of  mated  pairs  and  pens  in  correspondingly  large 
cages,  and  the  more  they  are  caged  together,  the  more  in- 
ferior they  appear.  To  properly  appreciate  a  bird,  a  spectator 
must  see  the  whole  of  it  at  a  glance,  not  a  portion.  When 
caged  with  others  and,  as  is  often  the  case  as  closely  as 
though  being  sent  to  market,  the  best  bird  conceivable  fails  to 
impress  either  the  onlookers  or  the  judge.  Specimens  of  the 
finest  quality  will  fail  to  win  for  you  under  those  conditions. 
Consequently,  we  may  conclude  that  of  all  the  economies  prac- 
ticed in  the  show  room  that  of  caging  closely  is  the  most  fool- 
ish. If  prizes  are  worth  anything  they  are  certainly  worth  the 
coop  fee  which  is  usually  about  the  traditional  two-bits. 

The  specimen  is  supposed  to  have  been  "conditioned"  at 
home.     This  term,  as  pointed  out,  refers  to  the  condition,  fit- 


358  AMERICAN   POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

ness  or  good  order  of  the  plumag-e  and  to  general  health  and 
state  of  flesh.  Little  or  nothing  can  be  done  in  the  short  time 
that  the  bird  is  in  the  show  room  to  materially  afifect  any  of 
these  conditions.  The  object  of  the  various  measures  that 
have  been  or  may  be  taken  while  the  bird  is  within  the  exhibi- 
tion hall  is  to  maintain  the  favorable  aspects  brought  about 
before  arrival. 

There  remains,  after  the  birds  are  properly  caged  and 
fed,  only  a  few  duties  that  may  affect  the  candidate's  chances 
for  honors.  These  are  generally  termed  the  finishing  touches, 
and  consist  of  cleaning  the  head  and  adjuncts  and  the  shanks 
and  toes.  The  latter  especially  should  have  been  attended  to 
at  home  as  part  of  the  process  of  conditioning.  If  not,  how- 
ever, or  if  either  shanks  or  toes  have  become  soiled  in  the 
meanwhile,  they  should  be  cleaned  and  afterwards  repolished 
if  necessary.  The  head  and  adjuncts  may  be  redressed  to  ad- 
vantage as  described  in  the  chapter  on  conditioning  for  show 
room. 

The  exhibitor  should,  of  course,  be  at  all  times  on  the  look- 
out for  false,  broken,  or  ragged  feathers.  By  general  custom 
the  removal  of  these  is  permissible. 

After  the  judging,  exhibitors  are  inclined  to  relax  in  their 
efforts  to  keep  their  birds  at  their  best.  To  a  certain  extent 
this  is  good  policy.  Birds,  no  matter  how  well  accustomed  to 
being  handled  and  pampered,  will  get  tired  of  too  much  atten- 
tion and  they,  as  well  as  the  exhibitors,  need  relaxation.  Re- 
laxation, however,  should  not  be  carried  to  the  extent  of  actual 
neglect  in  the  case  of  the  birds.  The  regularity  and  variety  of 
feeding  operations  should  be  maintained  from  start  to  finish. 
Nothing  whatever  should  be  allowed  to  interfere  with  these 
rules,  for  neglect  in  these  particulars,  even  for  a  day,  may  af- 
fect the  bird  more  seriously  later ;  and  at  no  time  should  the 
exhibitor,  as  a  breeder,  lose  sight  of  the  fact  that  his  best 
birds  in  the  show  room  are  his  best  birds  at  home,  as  a  rule. 
The  value  of  his  flock  next  season  will  depend  very  largely  on 
what  these  birds  which  he  has  in  the  show  room  this  season 
will  produce.  What  they  produce  depends,  not  alone,  on 
their  quality  but  on  their  health  and  vigor  which  is  very  easily 
affected,  adversely,  by  neglect  at  any  time  and  at  any  place, 
at  home,  enroute  to  the  show,  on  the  return,  and  again  at 
home.  Care  that  is  well  calculated  to  meet  these  varying  con- 
ditions and  keep  the  birds  at  their  best,  physically,  is  one  of  the 
many  essentials  of  success  in  the  business  of  producing  "the 
Best"  in  Standard  Bred  Poultry.     (A.  C.  S.) 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  359 


CHAPTER  V. 


RETURNING  FROM  THE  SHOW. 

BIRDS  that  are  returning  from  exhibitions  are  always 
shipped  by  the  shortest  and  most  direct  routes  and  al- 
ways by  express,  except  shipments  that  are  local  or  so 
nearly  local  that  they  may  be  taken  by  the  exhibitor's  own 
conveyance  or  one  that  he  has  hired.  Freight  shipments  are 
too  slow  and  unreliable  even  for  the  return  journey  when, 
though  the  exact  time  perhaps  of  arrival  is  not  important,  the 
duration  of  the  journey  must  not  be  of  such  length  that  it  is 
wearisome  to  the  birds  being  shipped  and  has,  consequently,  a 
detrimental  influence  on  their  health. 

Low  Return  Rate. — Generally,  a  lower  rate  is  secured  by 
allowing  the  same  express  company  that  transported  your 
birds  to  a  show,  to  handle  the  return  shipment.  Usually,  two- 
thirds  or  three-quarters  of  one  rate  is  saved  thereby,  if  fully 
prepaid  when  the  shipment  leaves  the  home  office. 

A  Change  in  Temperatures. — As  to  preparing  the  birds  to 
withstand  the  return  journey,  little  that  has  not  been  may  be 
done  now.  It  should  be  remembered,  however,  that  the  birds 
have  been  in  a  room  that  ordinarily  has  been  several  degrees 
warmer  than  a  poultry  house  usually  is,  at  this  season  of  the 
year,  and,  therefore,  the  birds  may  be  a  little  more  sensitive  to 
weather  conditions  than  when  they  started  on  the  trip  to  the 
show;  consequently,  all  the  protection  that  was  provided  for 
the  first  trip  should  be  used  for  the  return.  Usually,  the  birds 
are  shipped  out  of  the  show  room  in  the  same  coop  in  which 
they  entered  it,  and  the  protection  would  be  identical  for  both 
trips. 

Condition  of  Coops. — The  coops  should,  however,  be  in- 
spected to  discover  any  break  that  may  have  been  incidental 
to  the  journey,  and  if  the  same  is  so  located  as  to  cause  drafts 
or  of  such  a  nature  as  to  afford  a  possible  chance  of  injury  to 
the  fowl,  it  should  be  repaired  securely  before  the  birds  is 
cooped.  The  shipper  should  see  that  there  is  ample  bedding;  if 
it  is  the  same  that  was  in  the  coop  when  it  started  from  home, 
it  should  be  ascertained  to  be  in  sanitary  condition,  and  per- 
fectly dry  above  all  things. 


360  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Feeding  for  the  Return  Journey. — Grit,  or  shell,  or  both 
should  be  there  in  small  quantities,  and  wholesome  grains  in  a 
sufficient  quantity  for  the  needs  of  the  birds  during  the  jour- 
ney. All  of  the  above  could  have  been  put  in  the  coop  before 
it  left  home,  unless  the  journey  was  a  very  long  one.  A  lib- 
eral supply  of  succulents  must  not  be  forgotten.  Besides  their 
value  as  an  aid  to  indigestion,  they  are  very  palatable  and  the 
fowls  enjoy  them.  Like  a  good  meal  on  a  diner,  they  serve  to 
"kill  time"  and  induce  the  birds  to  forget  their  confinf.ment 
and  discomfort. 

As  in  the  case  when  shipping  to  shows  certain  advantages 
such  as  more  careful  handling,  quicker  transfers  if  transfers 
are  necessary,  better  positions  and  more  careful  stacking  in 
the  car  accrue  from  traveling  along  with  the  birds. 

Home  Delivery. — Arrangements  should  have  already  been 
made  for  the  delivery  of  the  birds  immediately  after  their  ar- 
rival at  the  home  express  office.  In  large  cities  deliveries  are 
sometimes  slow  on  account  of  the  distance  of  the  exhibitor's 
poultry  yards  from  the  express  receiving  station,  and  often 
many  deliveries  have  to  be  made  before  the  yards  are  reached. 
When  such  conditions  prevail  and  the  express  company's  of- 
ficials are  obdurate  and  cannot  be  induced  to  make  a  special 
delivery,  as  they  generally  can  be,  however,  when  a  reasonably 
large  shipment  is  involved,  it  pays,  if  the  birds  are  valuable, 
to  employ  a  truck  for  the  special  purpose  of  obtaining  a 
prompt  and  direct  delivery.     (A.  C.  S.) 


CHAPTER  VI. 

CARE  OF  THE  BIRDS  AFTER  THE  SHOW. 
Changed  Conditions. 

THOUGH  safely  home,  not  all  the  possible  dangers  to  the 
birds  are  over  by  any  means.  While  in  the  show  room, 
the  birds  have  become  accustomed  to  comparative  high 
temperatures  and,  in  all  probability,  entire  absence  of  drafts ; 
and  unaccustomed  to  cold  poultry  houses,  with  cold  floors,  an 
atmosphere  more  or  less  laden  with  moisture,  and  a  ventila- 
tion system  that  in  all  probability  is  subject  to  perceptible 
drafts ;  conditions  that  obviously  contrast  widely. 

Gradual  Changes. — Manifestly,  the  birds  should  not  feel 
the  full  force  of  these  changed  conditions  at  once.     But  as  a 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  361 

matter  of  fact,  if  a  little  common  sense  is  applied  to  our  meth- 
ods, and  the  changes  be  made  as  gradually  as  possible,  no  harm 
seems  to  result  therefrom,  and  the  birds  even  take  up  the  life 
of  the  pen  precisely  where  they  left  off.  A  few  simple  rules, 
obviously  of  good  sense  and  judgment,  are  all  that  are  neces- 
sary to  follow  in  ordinary  cases  to  insure  these  fowls  against 
sickness. 

Removing  from  the  Shipping  Coops. — It  would  certainly 
seem  to  be  unsafe  to  transfer  them  from  their  shipping  coops 
to  the  poultry  houses  during  the  night,  early  in  the  morning,  or 
late  in  the  afternoon  during  severe  weather.  It  would  be  far 
more  safe  to  select  the  middle  of  a  bright  sunny  day,  if  such  a 
day  accommodatingly  presents  itself  within  a  reasonable 
length  of  time,  as  the  auspicious  time  to  make  the  change. 

If  the  birds  arrive  during  the  day,  they  should  be  taken 
from  the  coops  long  enough  to  get  food  and  water,  and  de- 
pending upon  conditions,  be  allowed  more  or  less  exercise.  If 
the  weather  is  mild,  or  the  poultry  house  is  comfortable,  there 
is  no  reason  why  they  should  not  remain  there,  if  contrary  con- 
ditions are  encountered,  they  should  be  returned  to  their  ship- 
ping coops  and  if  necessary  these  should  be  covered.  The 
birds  should  be,  however,  again  taken  from  the  coops  as  early 
as  appears  to  be  safe  the  next  morning  and  may  then  remain 
in  the  poultry  house  indefinitely,  unless  it  is  so  cold  that  they 
could  not  remain  there  under  ordinary  circumstances  without 
freezing,  in  which  case  they  should  be  returned  to  the  boxes, 
and  the  boxes  covered  if  necessary.  It  is  much  better  to  take 
precautions  against  disease  than  to  be  obliged  to  try  to  cure  it. 

Prevent  Diseases  of  the  Head. — The  diseases  that  are  most 
apt  to  be  contracted  in  the  show  room  and  during  shipment 
are  those  of  the  head,  including  the  nose  and  throat,  and  in- 
testinal disorders.  To  prevent  the  former,  it  is  well  to  bathe 
the  head  in  a  slightly  warm  solution  of  some  good  disinfectant, 
and  the  throat  may  be  easily  cleaned  by  swabbling  it  with  a 
flight  or  secondary  feather  after  dipping  the  feather  in  a  solu- 
tion of  hydrogen  peroxide  or  listerine  and  water,  half  and 
half.  These  treatments,  especially  if  repeated  two  or  three 
times,  often  prevent  such  diseases  as  cold,  canker,  roup  and 
chicken  pox. 

To  Prevent  Intestinal  Disorders. — Intestinal  disorders  are 
harder  to  control  but  much  benefit  may  come  from  administer- 
ing a  mild  laxitive  as  soon  as  the  bird  is  back  from  the  show ; 
not  wholly  because  that  disease  may  be  warded  off,  but  be- 


362  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

cause  the  general  health  of  the  bird  may  be  greatly  benefited. 
It  was  the  practice  of  a  very  successful  exhibitor,  with  whom 
the  writer  was  long  ago  acquainted,  to  give  each  bird  on  its 
return  from  a  show  a  small  cube  of  beef  or  ham  fat,  dipped 
lightly  in  red  pepper.  This  seems  so  simple  as  to  be  folly,  yet 
we  readily  can  see  that  the  fat  was,  because  of  its  oily  nature, 
warming  and  laxative,  while  the  pepper  is  known  to  be  a  stim- 
ulant to  digestive  action. 

The  Use  of  Condiments  and  Laxatives. — Another  equally 
successful  exhil)itor  and  breeder  who  was  most  skillful  in  the 
care  of  chickens,  mixed  equal  parts  of  ginger,  charcoal,  flowers 
of  sulphur,  and  powdered  charcoal  together,  added  enough 
melted  lard  or  flour  and  water  to  hold  the  ingredients  together, 
and  gave  each  bird  a  pill  about  the  size  of  a  large  pea.  We 
can  understand  that  this  is  mildly  laxative  and  stimulating  to 
digestive  action.  These  remedies  are  mentioned  because  of 
their  simple,  harmless  character,  and  because  they  are  usually 
available. 

Compel  Exercise  and  Feed  Lightly. — Aside  from  these 
simple  precautions,  it  is  necessary  to  mention  but  one  or  two 
more,  and  these  are  so  important,  so  obvious  and  so  well 
known  that  it  is  not  necessary  to  go  into  very  much  detail.  It 
is  known  by  every  exhibitor  that  birds,  partly  because  they 
are  overfed  and  underexercised,  become  lazy  if  not  dyspeptic 
during  the  time  they  are  so  closely  confined.  It  is  therefore 
necessary  to  feed  lightly  for  a  few  days  and  in  such  a  man- 
ner that  the  birds  must  exercise.  This  is  easily  accomplished 
by  supplying  the  same  light,  yet  deep  litter  that  is  so  neces- 
sary to  get  birds  in  show  condition,  or  to  keep  hens  laying 
briskly  in  the  winter  months. 

Notwithsanding  the  usual  demands  of  the  show  room  and 
the  incidentals  connected  therewith  upon  the  physical  and 
mental  systems  of  fowls  entirely  unprovided  for  by  nature  in 
the  original  parents,  the  difiiculties  of  conditioning  and  show- 
ing fowls  seems  very  small  and  trivial  to  anyone  who  has  even 
a  very  few  years  of  experience  in  this  fascinating  sport. 
(A.  C  S.) 


PART  FIVE. 

PRACTICAL  POULTRY  KEEPING. 

SECTION  I.  THE  MATURE  FLOCK. 

Chapter  I.  HOW  TO  START. 

Chapter  II.  A  BACK  YARD  FLOCK. 

Chapter  III.  HOUSING  THE  FLOCK. 

Chapter  IV.  SANITATION. 

Chapter  V  FEEDING  THE  BREEDING  HENS. 

Chapter  VI.    THE  HEALTH  OF  THE  BREEDING 
FLOCK  IN  CONFINEMENT. 

SECTION   II.  THE  YOUNG  STOCK. 

Chapter  I.  HATCHING   AND    BROODING. 

Chapter  II.  CARE  OF  THE  GROWING  STOCK. 

Chapter  III.  FEEDING  FOR  GROWTH. 


364  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

SECTION    I. 
THE  MATURE  FLOCK. 


CHAPTER  I. 
HOW  TO  START. 

A  WELL  KNOWN  American  humorist  once  said,  "The 
way  to  start  is  to  begin",  and  that  applies  as  well  to 
poultry  keeping  as  to  any  other  enterprise.  There  is 
no  rule  or  set  of  rules  for  starting  in  this  business  which,  if 
•  followed,  will  guarantee  success,  or  which,  if  neglected,  is  sure 
to  be  followed  by  failure.  How  well  one  applies  himself  to 
the  details  of  the  work  and  how  well  he  understands  the  busi- 
ness is  far  more  important  and  necessary  to  his  success  than 
that  he  start  at  any  particular  time  or  according  to  any  particu- 
lar plan  or  system. 

Selecting  the  Breed, — Undoubtedly  the  first  thing  to  do  is 
to  decide  on  a  variety  which  has  a  special  appeal  to  the  person 
about  to  take  up  the  work  of  breeding  standard-bred  fowls. 
If  he  decides  to  breed  Wyandottes,  he  has  his  choice  of  all 
the  varieties  of  that  breed  which  are  described  in  this  vol- 
ume and  all  of  these  will  give  perfect  satisfaction  if  properly 
bred,  housed  and  cared  for.  As  all  varieties  are  required  to 
have  the  same  shape,  the  matter  of  choice  is  merely  one  of 
color.  As  it  is  a  generally  accepted  fact  that  a  breeder  will  do 
best  with  the  kind  he  likes  best,  it  is  by  all  means  advisable  to 
select  the  variety  of  Wyandotte  which  appeals  most  to  him 
on  account  of  its  plumage,  bearing  in  mind  that  in  selling 
eggs  and  stock  for  breeding  purposes,  and  stock  for  exhibition, 
there  is  more  demand  for  the  popular  varieties  than  those  that 
are  not  so  popular. 

While  many  contend  that  the  first  thing  to  do  is  to  build 
and  properly  equip  quarters  for  fowls  or  chicks,  it  is  true  that 
there  is  no  real  poultry  keeping  or  poultry  breeding  until  one 
possesses  the  chicks  or  fowls.  Many  a  poultry  breeder  who 
now  occupies  a  prominent  position  in  the  poultry  world  started 
by  buying  a  setting  of  eggs  at  a  time  when  he  possessed  no 
*nore  equipment  than  a  sitting  hen  and  a  box  in  which  to  make 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  365 

a  nest.  If  the  start  is  made  by  purchasing  eggs,  the  buildings 
and  equipment  can  be  built  as  requirements  demand. 

Quality,  Health  and  Vigor. — When  starting  in  this  way, 
the  first  thing  to  do  is  to  select  the  breeder  from  whom  the 
eggs  are  to  be  bought.  As  distance  is  no  bar,  if  eggs  are 
packed  and  handled  properly,  the  main  point  to  be  considered 
is  the  quality  of  the  stock  that  the  breeder  can  and  will  sell. 
When  referring  to  quality,  we  mean  how  closely  the  stock 
approximates  the  requirements  of  the  American  Standard  of 
Perfection  and  described,  so  far  as  they  afifect  each  variety  of 
Wyandottes,  in  this  book ;  and  also,  whether  the  same 
stock  possesses  the  health  and  vitality  which  is  so  necessary 
for  success.  These  things  are  of  equal  importance,  because 
one's  success  as  a  breeder  of  standard-bred  fowls  depends  on 
his  having  stock  good  enough  to  command  good  prices,  and  it 
also  depends  on  his  having  stock  with  the  health  and  strength 
which  will  make  it  productive,  not  only  of  good  color,  but  of 
plenty  of  eggs  and  meat.  It  should  be  particularly  noted  that 
it  is  very  difficult  to  produce  the  quality  of  stock  in  any  variety 
of  Wyandottes  which  will  sell  for  high  prices  from  any  ex- 
cept a  line,  or  family,  of  healthy  fowls. 

Buy  of  a  Specialist. — It  is  very  satisfactory  to  see  the  stock 
from  which  one  buys  eggs  if  it  is  convenient  to  do  so,  but  al- 
most all  of  the  buying  of  eggs  is  done  by  mail  and  breeders 
with  reputations  to  sustain  can  be  depended  on  to  deal  justly 
with  those  who  send  to  them  for  eggs  for  hatching.  It  is  al- 
ways best  to  buy  of  a  breeder  who  has  a  good  reputation,  be- 
cause it  is  difficult  to  build  up  such  a  reputation  except  by 
breeding  good  stock  and  giving  good  value  when  filling  or- 
ders. Almost  invariably  the  specialist  is  the  best  one  to  buy 
from,  for  the  specialist  has  more  and  better  stock  of  his  breed 
or  variety  than  one  who  attempts  to  breed  or  handle  and  sell 
a  great  many  different  varieties.  This  is  not  intended  to  cast 
reflections  on  the  reputable  and  successful  breeder  who  handles 
two,  three,  or  even  half  a  dozen  varieties  and  who  has  suc- 
ceeded with  all  of  them.  Our  readers  will  understand,  how- 
ever, why  it  is  impossible  for  any  man,  or  associated  group  of 
men,  to  successfully  breed,  raise  and  sell  high  quality  stock 
of  many  different  varieties. 

Prices  of  Hatching  Eggs. — Prices  should  be  made  a  minor 
consideration.  The  main  point  is  to  get  good  eggs  from  good 
stock  and  while  a  few  dollars  more  in  the  price  of  the  eggs 
amounts  to  but  little,  the  difference  in  the  value  of  the  chickens 


366  AMERICAN  POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 

hatched  will  amount  to  considerable  as  the  stock  grows  up 
and  develops,  and  is  in  turn  bred  from  to  build  up  the  flock. 
Poor  eggs,  or  even  good  eggs  from  poor  or  ordinary  stock, 
are  expensive  at  any  price,  because  they  make  it  impossible  for 
the  breeder  to  progress  as  he  must,  in  order  to  be  successful. 
In  many  cases,  buying  eggs  proves  a  very  inexpensive  method 
of  getting  some  of  the  finest  chicks.  It  frequently  happens 
that  a  setting  of  eggs  sold  for  five,  ten,  or  perhaps,  in  extreme 
cases,  twenty-five  dollars  produces  a  single  bird  which  is  worth 
many  times  the  original  cost  of  the  eggs.  The  writer  recalls 
cases  in  which  settings  of  purchased  eggs  produced  first  prize 
winners  at  several  fairly  prominent  poultry  shows. 

Breeding  Stock. — To  start  with,  the  purchase  of  breeding 
stock  requires  more  capital  if  the  stock  is  first  class,  but  on 
the  other  hand  a  good  trio  or  pen  will  supply  several  settings 
of  eggs.  There  is,  moreover,  a  certain  satisfaction  in  possess- 
ing the  fowls  and  considerable  pleasure  in  feeding  and  caring 
for  them.  When  adopting  this  method  of  getting  a  start,  it  is 
best  to  buy  mature  specimens,  or  at  least  those  which  are 
nearly  mature,  in  the  case  of  young  stock.  Quarters  and  equip- 
ment must  be  provided  before  the  fowls  arrive.  It  is  just 
as  important  to  select  the  variety  which  appeals  most  to  the 
purchaser  when  buying  stock  as  when  buying  eggs,  and  it  is 
also  just  as  important  to  buy  from  a  breeder  who  has  a  good 
reputation  for  the  quality  of  his  stock  and  whose  business  has 
developed  to  the  point  where  one  is  justified  in  believing  that 
it  is  founded  on  honesty  in  his  dealings.  While  this  may  not 
be  as  important  when  the  experienced  poultry  breeder  is  pur- 
chasing, it  is  something  that  the  beginner  should  not  over- 
look. 

Here  again,  the  quality  of  the  stock  individually  and  the 
ability  of  the  family,  or  line,  from  which  it  comes  to  repro- 
duce its  good  qualities  of  shape  and  color  as  well  as  its  strength 
and  vitality,  are  important  matters  to  consider.  Inasmuch 
as  the  success  of  a  reputable  breeder  depends  considerably  on 
his  ability  to  build  up  a  strain,  the  individuals  of  which  will 
breed  true  to  character,  we  find  here  another  reason  for  patron- 
izing a  man  with  an  established  reputation.  As  such  a  breeder 
knows  the  parentage  of  the  members  of  his  flock,  and  also  how 
to  mate  each  individual  member  for  the  best  results,  a  faculty 
which  is  founded  on  his  knowledge  of  the  breeding  tenden- 
cies of  his  line,  it  is  always  best  to  have  the  breeder  mate  the 
fowls  which  the  novice  purchases.     If  this  is  done,  the  inex- 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  367 

perienced  beginner  is  relieved  of  one  of  the  most  trying  respon- 
sibilities of  his  first  season ;  and  if  he  takes  care  of  his  breeders 
properly  and  rears  the  chicks  with  such  good  judgment  that 
they  grow  and  develop  well,  he  may  be  sure  of  good  results 
the  first  season.  Whether  it  is  best  to  buy  young  stock,  if  it 
is  mature  enough  to  show  its  quality,  or  old  stock,  or  a  part 
of  each,  is  less  important  than  whether  one  gets  the  right 
quality.  Pens  made  up  of  well  matured  stock  hatched  the 
previous  spring  are  often  as  healthy,  as  strong,  and  produce 
as  good  results  as  old  birds.  Yet  such  birds  are,  of  course, 
untried  and  just  what  they  will  produce  can  not  be  foretold, 
whereas  the  older  birds  can  sometimes  be  bought  with  an 
exact  knowledge  of  what  they  produced  the  previous  season 
and  what  they  may  be  expected  to  produce  in  the  season  to 
come.  While  it  is  sometimes  advised  and  occasionally  advis- 
able to  mate  cocks  with  pullets  and  cockerels  with  hens,  there 
is  no  well  defined  rule  which  must  be  followed  calling  for  such 
matings,  and  no  preponderant  proof  that  such  matings  are 
best. 

If  only  a  certain  amount  of  money  is  to  be  spent,  it  is 
better  to  buy  a  few  good  birds  than  many  poor  ones,  or  even 
an  ordinary  number  of  birds  of  mediocre  quality.  It  should  be 
remembered  that  the  stock  bought  at  the  beginning  is  to  be 
the  foundation  of  the  flock,  and  the  better  the  quality  of  the 
foundation  stock,  the  faster  the  value  of  the  flock  will  increase 
as  its  numbers  become  greater.  It  may  also  be  remembered 
safely,  when  Wyandottes  are  being  considered,  that  beauty 
and  utility  may  136  found  in  the  same  birds.  There  is  no  rea- 
son why  any  variety  of  Wyandottes  can  not  be  doubly  valu- 
able because  it  meets  the  requirements  of  the  Standard  of 
Perfection  in  shape  and  color,  and  at  the  same  time  produces 
eggs  in  goodly  numbers  and  meat  in  satisfactory  quantity  and 
quality ;  in  fact,  there  is  every  reason  why  these  qualities 
shouM  be  found  in  the  same  specimens. 

When  to  Start. — When  the  start  is  made  with  eggs,  it  must 
be  done  in  the  spring  or  early  summer,  that  is,  in  March,  April, 
Mav  or  the  first  part  of  June.  Much  depends  on  the  use  the 
beginner  intends  to  make  of  the  chicks  that  are  to  be  hatched. 
If  Wyandottes  are  wanted  for  the  early  fall  shows,  they 
should  be  hatched  in  March  or  the  first  half  of  April ;  if  to  be 
shown  at  the  winter  shows,  May  is  early  enough  to  get  them 
out,  and  at  the  late  winter  shows,  those  hatched  in  the  first 
fifteen  days  in  June  are  frequently  among  the  winners.     It  is 


368  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

a  fact  that  the  best  results  are  usually  obtained  when  the  egg-s 
are  bought  after  the  breeding  stock  has  had  a  chance  to  get 
outdoors  and  exercise  in  the  open  air,  because  chicks  from 
such  eggs  come  out  at  the  time  Nature  intended  they  should 
and  when  they  have  the  fresh,  green,  warm  earth  to  run  on, 
and  all  Nature  is  favorable  to  them.  For  this  reason,  it  is 
best  to  defer  the  purchase  of  the  eggs  which  are  to  produce 
next  season's  breeders  until  the  latter  part  of  April  or  the  first 
part  of  May  in  northern  latitudes,  and  hatch  as  soon  as  the 
grass  begins  to  get  green  in  southern  latitudes. 

The  average  beginner  buys  stock  when  his  interest  is 
highest,  that  is,  generally  during  the  show  season,  immediately 
after  the  show  season,  or  directly  preceding  the  opening  of  the 
breeding  season,  which  begins  about  March  first.  At  this 
time  of  the  year  prices  of  breeding  stock  are  generally  at  the 
highest  point  because  the  poultryman  has  been  to  the  expense 
of  keeping  it  through  the  winter  and  because  there  is  more 
demand  for  it.  There  is  an  advantage  in  buying  at  this  time 
because  the  stock  is  usually  in  good  condition  for  breeding,  if 
supplied  by  a  successful  breeder,  and  the  beginner  can  go  right 
to  work  increasing  his  flock.  Again  he  secures  his  stock  in 
time  to  hatch  chicks  early  in  the  season. 

One  of  the  best  times  to  buy  old  stock  is  in  the  summer, 
when  breeders  are  offering  lower  prices  on  the  stock  which 
they  used  the  season  before,  and  which  they  do  not  require  for 
the  season  following.  Young  stock  can  be  bought  most  rea- 
sonably in  the  fall,  at  about  the  time  when  the  breeder  must 
put  it  in  winter  quarters  ;  but  it  should  not  be  bought  at  this 
time  unless  it  is  sufficiently  developed  to  show  its  quality.  An 
excellent  opportunity  is  sometimes  offered  to  purchase  fowls 
from  mated  pens,  or  to  purchase  entire  pens  in  the  late  spring 
after  the  breeder  has  secured  a  certain  number  of  eggs  from 
.them,  and  while  there  is  still  time  for  the  new  owner  to  raise- 
a  nice  flock  of  chicks.  There  is  no  best  time  to  start  with  the 
purchase  of  the  stock.  That  depends  altogether  upon  condi- 
tions. (H.  A.  N.) 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  369 


CHAPTER  II. 


A  BACK  YARD  FLOCK. 

THERE  are  interesting  possibilities  connected  witli  keep- 
ing a  breeding  pen  in  the  back  yard,  or,  if  the  back 
yard  is  big  enough,  keeping  two  breeding  pens  or  per- 
haps more.  Limited  room  is  no  bar  to  success  if  the  poultry 
keeper  does  his  part.  The  smaller  the  area  to  be  devtjted  to  a 
flock  of  fowls,  the  more  care  that  flock  needs,  for  the  things 
that  the  fowls  could  do  for  themselves  if  they  had  a  wide  range 
must  be  done  for  them  by  the  owner  when  they  are  confined 
within  narrow  limits.  Naturally,  none  but  standard-bred 
flocks  should  be  kept,  for  these  not  only  can  be  made  profitable 
for  eggs  and  meat,  but  there  may  be  an  added  profit  from 
the  sale  of  eggs  for  hatching  and  stock  for  breeding  and  ex- 
hibition, if  the  breeder  has  the  inclination  and  ability  to 
breed  high  class  stock.  Some  of  the  winners  in  our  largest 
shows  are  from  flocks  that  are  kept  in  back  yards,  where  there 
is  room  for  only  a  small  house  and  a  small  yard.  If  it  happens 
that  an  owner  can  place  his  chicks  on  a  farm  where  they  will 
receive  good  care  and  where  they  can  have  the  advantage  of 
free  range  during  their  growth,  he  can  raise  more  chicks,  and 
in  many  cases  better  chicks,  than  if  obliged  to  do  all  the  rear- 
ing in  his  small  back  yard. 

Advantages — Poultry  Keeping  Brings  Health. — Back  yard 
poultry  keeping  is  not  only  capable  of  making  good  profits, 
but  it  ofifers  recreation  of  the  most  healthful  kind.  Many  a 
man  or  woman  has  found  improved  health  by  spending,  every 
day,  the  time  needed  to  care  for  one  of  these  small  flocks,  be- 
cause in  doing  so  that  man  or  woman  was  compelled  to  take 
outdoor  exercise. 

The  boys  and  girls  can  frequently  be  interested  in  the  back 
yard  flock  and  thereby  be  induced  to  spend  more  time  at  home 
in  a  useful  pursuit  than  they  otherwise  would.  Instances  are 
known  where  boys  and  girls  have  made  the  profit  from  a  small 
flock  the  nucleus  of  a  splendid  bank  account,  which  afforded 
them  the  means  of  obtaining  an  advanced  education  or  a  start 
in  business  life. 


370  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATIOX 

Feeding. — The  back  yard  poultry  breeder  has  one  decided 
advantage.  He  has  enough  table  and  kitchen  waste  to  make  up 
perhaps  half  the  ration  for  his  flock,  which  reduces  the  cost  of 
feeding  his  fowls  and  adds  to  his  profits.  These  table  and 
kitchen  sciaps  can  be  mixed  with  a  little  corn  meal  and  bran 
and  that  part  of  one  ration,  therefore,  costs  but  little.  If  pre- 
ferred, these  scraps  can  be  fed  separately  in  a  trough,  for  a 
lunch  at  midday.  Usually,  however,  there  is  more  of  this 
material,  which  is  usually  excellent  for  the  purpose,  than  can 
be  fed  for  lunch  only.  (H.  A.  N.) 


^       -TvM^^T^    If    ' 


A  Poultry  House,  after  the  Maine  Alodel,  at  University  Farm, 
St.  Paul,  Minn.  The  cut  shows  the  curtains  open  (left)  for  a  mild 
winter  day  and  closed  (right)  for  severe  winter  weather. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  371 


CHAPTER  III. 


HOUSING  THE  FLOCK. 

HOUSING  is  one  of  the  most  important  items  in  poultry 
keeping.  A  flock  that  is  not  well  housed  is  not  com- 
fortable and  a  flock  that  is  not  comfortable  is  not 
healthy,  profitable  nor  satisfactory  to  care  for.  It  is  a  mistake 
to  expect  the  same  type  of  house  to  prove  satisfactory  under  all 
conditions.  PJouses  that  seem  to  meet  the  reciuirement  when 
placed  in  sheltered  locations  fail  utterly  when  exposed  to  the 
cold  winds.  Houses  that  are  used  in  the  northern  parts  of 
the  country  must  obviously  be  more  warmly  built,  and  are, 
therefore,  more  expensive  than  those  used  in  the  wSouth  where 
the  winters  are  mild. 

Wyandottes  have  rugged  constitutions  and  do  not  re- 
quire particularly  warm  c[uarters.  but  they  must  be  well  pro- 
tected from  the  elements  and  at  the  same  time  a  reasonable 
provision  must  be  made  for  fresh  air  and  sunlight.  The  fact 
that  they  will  stand  extreme  temperatures,  when  healthy  and 
vigorous,  without  apparent  suffering,  is  no  contradiction  of 
the  statement  that,  if  part  of  their  energy  and  heat  is  used  to 
combat  extreme  cold,  that  same  energy  and  heat  can  not  be 
used  to  produce  eggs  or  meat.  It  is  best  to  keep  the  fowls 
comfortable. 

Open  Front  Houses. — What  is  known  as  the  open  front 
house,  that  is.  the  house  with  the  north,  east  and  west  sides, 
as  well  as  the  roof,  tightly  and  warmly  built  and  the  south 
side  entirely  open,  can  be  used  satisfactorily  in  warm  and  mild 
climates  and  sometimes  proves  satisfactory  in  sheltered  loca- 
tions in  all  except  the  coldest  parts  of  the  United  States  and 
Canada. 

Warm  Houses. — In  most  cases,  however,  poultry  keeping 
in  the  northern  part  of  this  country  calls  for  houses  which 
can  be  closed  up  quite  tightly  during  severely  cold  nights,  and 
which  may  be  opened  sufficiently  to  let  in  a  plentiful  supply  of 
fresh  air  during  the  daytime.  It  will  be  plain  to  all  that  in 
order  to  properly  protect  the  fowls  and  conserve  their  heat 
and  energy,  they  must  have  more  protection  in  cold  weather 
than  in  warm  weather,  and  that  the  protection  afiforded  must 


372  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

be  at  all  times  in  proportion  to  the  severity  of  the  weather ; 
that  is,  houses  must  be  quite  open  in  warm  weather,  partly 
closed  in  moderately  cold  weather,  and  almost  entirely  closed 
in  very  cold  weather. 

The  house  must  be  constructed  in  such  a  way  that  the- 
cold  can  not  penetrate  it  readily,  yet  the  sun  can  dry  it  and 
warm  the  walls  during  the  bright  days,  as  the  sun  is  the 
cheapest  heating  and  drying  agent  that  we  have. 

Houses  for  Warm  Climates.— In  parts  of  the  country  where 
extremely  cold  weather  is  unknown  and  in  parts  even  farther 
south  where  only  moderately  cold  weather  is  experienced, 
buildings  which  are  very  simply  and  thinly  built,  open  on  one 
side  and  with  conveniences  for  letting  in  air  through  one  or 
more  of  the  other  three  sides,  may  be  constructed. 

Simple  Construction  Best. — The  poultry  keeper  who  has 
at  his  disposal  the  rear  of  a  small  city  lot,  or  the  village  poul- 
tryman  who  has  a  little  larger  space,  will  find  the  simplest 
house  the  best  in  most  cases,  and  also  the  least  expensive  to 
construct.  Of  all  buildings,  the  shed  roof  style,  with  the 
front  about  seven  or  eight  feet  high  and  the  back  about  five 
to  six  feet  high,  is  the  cheapest  to  build  and  the  one  most 
commonly  used.  It  can  be  built  any  width  up  to  sixteen  feet 
and  any  length  desired.  It  should  face  south  and  have  one 
full  size  upper  and  lower  sash  window,  hung  preferably  on 
weights  and  pulleys,  like  the  windows  in  a  dwelling,  for  every 
eight  feet  in  length,  if  it  is  more  than  ten  feet  wide,  or  one 
window  for  each  twelve  feet  in  length,  if  it  is  less  than  ten 
feet  wide.  A  house  less  than  twelve  feet  wide  is  more  expen- 
sive to  build,  in  proportion  to  its  capacity,  and  is  not  advised 
except  in  cases  where  a  narrower  house  must  be  used  for  some 
reason. 

Walls  and  Roofs. — In  the  cold  parts  of  the  country,  the 
walls  and  roof  of  such  a  building  may  be  built  of  tongued  and 
grooved  boards  nailed  to  a  frame  work  of  two-by-fours,  and 
covered  with  two  or  three  thicknesses  of  tar  paper,  then  one 
thickness  of  any  good  brand  of  prepared  roofing.  This  con- 
struction, though  simple  and  cheap,  makes  a  wall  that  is  rea- 
sonably warm,  because  it  keeps  out  the  cold  and  is  warmed 
up  and  dried  out  quickly  when  the  sun  shines  on  it.  Shin- 
gles, clapboards,  or  any  kind  of  siding  on  the  outside  makes 
a  better  appearing  structure  and  a  warm  one,  but  more  ex- 
pensive. In  warmer  territories,  only  a  single  thickness  of 
boards    for   the   walls,   with    the   same    and    tarred   paper    or 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK 


373 


prepared  roofing  on  the  roof  to  make  it  water-tight,  is  re- 
quired. A  handsomer  finish  can  also  be  applied  to  the  same 
construction. 

Ventilation. — This  is  an  important  matter,  because  it  is 
known  that  the  presence  of  moisture  impairs  the  health  of 
fowls.  Fowls  throw  off  quantities  of  moisture  when  exhal- 
ing and  this  moisture,  together  with  that  which  originates 
from  any  other  source,  must  be  carried  out  of  the  building  by 
means  of  ventilation  or  currents  of  air.  These  air  currents, 
if  rapid,  cause  drafts  and  drafts  in  the  house  endanger  the 
health  of  the  fowls.  To  prevent  these  drafts  the  air  must  be 
allowed  to  enter  through  the  one  side  only  by  opening  the 
windows,  much  or  little,  according  to  the  temperature  and  the 
force  of  the  incoming  wind.  In  some  localities,  cloth  covered 
frames  are  placed  in  openings  between  the  windows  and  high 
enough  up  in  the  side  of  the  house  so  that  when  these  frames, 
which  should  be  hinged  at  the  top,  are  opened  the  drafts  can 


1  *^v-S^ 

^■JyJPP^^j^'t 

FARM   POULTRY   HOUSE,   MINNESOTA   MODEL. 

Windows  hung  on  weights  and  pulleys  serve  as  ventilators  when 
required.  Openings  above  windows  fitted  with  two  sets  of  doors,  each 
of  which  can  be  closed  or  open,  orovide  constant  ventilation. 


374  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

not  Strike  the  fowls  on  the  floor.  These  cloth  covered  frames 
permit  the  air  to  enter  and  leave  the  house  slowly  and  provide 
ventilation  when  the  windows  are  closed  to  keep  out  the  wind. 
In  higher  houses  than  we  have  described,  a  loft  is  built  in  the 
top  of  the  structure  by  placing  boards  an  inch  a  part,  high 
enough  to  clear  the  head  of  the  caretaker  and  covered  with 
a  thick  bed  of  straw  or  hay.  Openings  are  made  in  the  walls 
of  the  house  above  this  straw  or  hay  and  the  air  enters  and 
escapes  from  the  house  by  slowly  passing  up  and  down 
through  this  material. 

No  system  of  flues  and  pipes  will  work  satisfactorily  unless 
artificial  heat  is  applied  to  create  a  draft  in  them.  In  warm 
parts  of  the  country  v/here  the  buildings  have  one  side  en- 
tirely open,  except  perhaps  for  a  wire  screen  to  keep  the  hens 
in  and  other  animals  out.  the  ventilation  takes  care  of  itself, 
though  frequently  it  js  necessary  to  have  open  spaces  in  other 
sides  of  the  house  to  keep  it  comfortable  in  the  hottest 
weather. 

Other  types  of  poultry  buildings,  including  those  with  the 
roof  divided  into  two  equal  pitches  and  those  with  the  roof 
divided  into  two  unequal  pitches,  can  readily  be  adapted  to 
suit  the  back  yard  poultry  keeper's  needs,  if  they  seem  to 
better  suit  his  convenience  and  fancy. 

Whatever  the  type  of  the  house,  it  should  be  so  constructed 
that  it  will  be  dry.  If  it  is  on  a  damp  location,  or  one  which 
is  not  well  drained  and  likely  to  be  damp  at  any  season  of 
the  year,  a  floor  is  necessary.  If,  however,  it  is  on  a  dry  loca- 
tion, the  floor  may  be  made  by  filling  in  with  gravel  and  sand 
to  a  height  a  few  inches  above  the  ground  level.  The  last 
named  method  makes  the  most  healthful  and  the  warmest 
floor. 

Interior  Equipment. — The  equipment  of  the  back  yard 
poultry  keeper's  hen  house  should  be  very  simple.  The  roost 
platform  should  be  placed  two  feet  above  the  floor,  so  that 
the  hens  can  use  the  floor  space  under  it,  against  the  north 
wall  of  the  house  and  the  roosts  should  be  set  from  six  to 
eight  inches  above  the  platform.  These  roosts  may  be  made 
of  small  dimension  stuff  that  is  not  more  than  two  inches  wide 
on  its  upper  surface,  with  the  corners  rounded,  or  of  round 
pieces  not  more  than  three  inches  in  diameter.  It  should  be 
remembered  that  when  the  hen  sits  down  on  the  roost  her 
toes  automatically  curl  and  for  that  reason  the  upper  surface 
of  the  roost  must  be  rounded.    If  more  than  one  roost  is  used, 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  375 

all  should  be  on  the  same  level  and  far  enough  apart  so  that 
the  fowls  will  not  be  crowded  when  the  roosts  are  full. 

Nests  may  be  made  of  ordinary  boxes,  large  enough  so 
that  a  hen  can  sit  down  in  them  comfortably,  and  hung  on 
the  walls,  or  they  may  be  made  to  look  better  by  any  special 
construction  and  the  use  of  good  lumber.  Grit  and  shell 
boxes,  feed  hoppers,  etc.,  may  be  hung  on  the  walls  at  con- 
venient places  and  high  enough  so  that  the  dirt  will  not  be 
scratched  into  them  by  the  fowls.  (H.  A.  N.) 


CHAPTER  IV. 

SANITATION. 

THE  average  poultry-keeper  pays  too  little  attention  to 
the  practice  of  the  principles  of  sanitation,  though  it  is 
of  the  greatest  importance  that  these  principles  should 
be  thoroughly  applied  in  both  the  poultry  houses  and  yards, 
because  sanitary  measures  must  be  practiced  assiduously  in 
order  to  maintain  normal  health  among  the  fowls. 

Every  condition  that  promotes  the  possibility  of  disease 
may  be  classed  as  insanitary  and  the  elimination  of  such  con- 
ditions must  be  accomplished  as  quickly  after  discovery  as 
possible,  in  order  that  the  flock  may  be  kept  in  perfect  health, 
without  which  the  best  results  in  any  of  the  different  branches 
of  poultry  culture,  as  the  production  and  hatchability  of  eggs, 
and  the  livability  and  growth  of  young  stock,  can  not  be  ob- 
tained. 

Cleanliness. — This  is  the  most  potent  agency  in  promoting 
sanitation.  The  vital  importance  of  cleanliness  must  be  ac- 
cepted as  a  first  principle  in  the  successful  management  of  a 
poultry  establishment,  large  or  small.  Manifestly,  it  is  more 
difficult  and  laborious  to  maintain  cleanliness  when  large  num- 
bers of  fowls  or  chicks  are  kept  in  small  houses  and  runs,  than 
when  the  reverse  is  the  practice.  But,  in  that  case,  the  neces- 
sity is  in  a  proportionate  measure  more  urgent,  and  in  all  cases 
cleanliness,  not  as  a  theory  but  as  a  condition,  must  be  estab- 
lished and  maintained  in  all  parts  of  the  house,  including 
floors,  walls,  roosts,  roost  platforms  and  nests  and,  particu- 
larly, in  all  watering  and  feeding  devices.  Cleanliness  pre- 
vents disease  by  removing  the  germs  of  disease  and  the  accum- 
ulation of  filth  which  is  conducive  to  their  increase  and  de- 
velopment. 


376  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

The  Use  of  Disinfectants. — The  intelligent  use  of  disin- 
fectants is  also  effective  as  a  method  of  destroying  germs  of 
disease.  There  are  numbers  of  these  that  can  be  relied  upon 
to  do  the  work  desired  if  the  directions  furnished  are  followed, 
but  while  they  serve  their  purpose  nicely,  it  should  be  under- 
stood that  the  necessity  for  their  use  is  reduced  or  increased 
as  cleanliness  is  practiced  or  neglected.  When  a  tolerable 
degree  of  cleanliness  is  constantly  maintained,  the  frequent 
use  of  disinfectants  will  not  be  necessary,  except  when  disease 
is  prevalent,  or  unless  it  is  to  destroy  or  prevent  the  intrusion 
of  lice  or  mites.  Cleanliness  of  all  parts  of  the  house  to  a 
degree  that  insures  against  ordinary  dangers  of  disease  can 
be  acquired  by  the  common  mechanical  process  of  cleaning, 
except  in  cases  of  feeding  and  drinking  appliances,  which 
should  be  scalded  or  washed  in  disinfectants  occasionally. 

Roost  platforms  should  be  cleaned  at  least  twice  a  week, 
or  daily  if  convenient,  and  with  the  roosts  should  be  treated 
copiously  with  a  liquid  disinfectant  which  is  an  insecticide 
as  well  as  a  germicide  once  a  month,  and  at  least  twice  as  often 
during  hot  weather.  The  floor  litter  should  be  removed  and 
renewed  as  often  as  necessary,  which  is  readily  determined  by 
inspection. 

Care  of  Grounds. — The  sanitation  of  the  small  poultry  yard 
is  often  a  serious  problem.  When  the  fowls  are  kept  on  the 
same  ground  for  a  considerable  length  of  time,  disease  germs 
multiply  so  rapidly  in  the  filth  which  accumulates,  that  the 
ground  becomes  so  contaminated  as  to  become  a  menace  to 
health.  Where  the  yards  are  exceptionally  small,  poultry- 
keepers  sometimes  remove  the  surface  of  the  soil  for  fertilizer 
and  replace  it  with  new  earth.  It  is  also  a  common  practice 
to  spade  up  the  earth,  turning  the  surface  under  and  bringing 
fresh  soil  to  the  top ;  but  even  when  this  is  done,  the  ground 
sooner  or  later  becomes  saturated  with  filth  which  nurtures 
germs  of  disease. 

Fortunately,  Nature  has  provided  a  way  for  cleansing  filthy 
ground  by  means  of  vegetable  growth  which  may  be  of  service 
to  the  poultry-keeper.  Wherever  possible  the  back  yard  poul- 
try-keeper, or  any  poultry-keeper  who  is  obliged  to  use  a  small 
area  of  ground,  should  take  advantage  of  this  fact  by  dividing 
his  yards,  so  that  while  the  fowls  are  running  in  one,  some 
quick-growing,  succulent  vegetation,  which  is  at  the  same  time 
purifying  the  soil  and  supplying  green  food,  is  being  produced 
in  the  other.     As  soon  as  this  vegetation  in  the  second  yard 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  377 

has  obtained  a  good  start,  that  yard  may  again  be  used  by  the 
fowls,  and  greens  planted  in  the  yard  first  used.  By  this 
process  the  ground  can  be  kept  in  good  condition  and  a  cer- 
tain amount  of  green  food  constantly  furnished  the  fowls  in 
season.  (H.  A.  N.) 

CHAPTER  V. 
FEEDING  THE  BREEDING  FLOCK. 

FEEDING  the  fowls  from  which  the  eggs  for  hatching  will 
be  secured  is  a  very  important  matter.  Sometimes  care 
and  feed  which  will  secure  a  good  yield  will  not  produce 
eggs  that  will  hatch  well,  nor  which  will  hatch  strong,  healthy 
chicks.  When  feeding  for  high  production  alone,  the  main 
idea  is  to  feed  the  hen  a  ration  that  will  enable  her  to  pro- 
duce the  most  eggs  in  a  given  time,  and  that  very  often  over- 
works her  so  that  her  strength  and  vitality  are  reduced  to  such 
an  extent  that  she  will  seldom  lay  eggs  that  are  suitable  for 
incubation.  To  produce  a  strong  chick,  the  egg  must  not  only 
be  perfect  so  far  as  table  qualities  are  concerned,  l)ut  must  also 
possess  a  strong,  vigorous  life  germ  and  the  proper  life-giving 
material  to  develop  this  germ.  It  will  be  obvious  that  both 
the  male  and  females  in  the  breeding  pen  must  be  in  good 
physical  condition,  or  the  qualities  desired,  hatchability  of 
the  eggs  and  vitality  of  the  chicks  hatched,  will  be  lacking 
in  the  egg  produced. 

In  accordance  with  Nature's  plan,  the  hen  usually  waits 
until  warm  weather  comes  and  the  ground  is  covered  with 
green  grass  before  eggs  are  laid  and  incubated.  She  then 
finds  health-giving  nourishment  in  form  of  fresh  vegetable 
matter  and  has  an  invigorating  atmosphere  in  which  to  exer- 
cise and  build  up  her  powers  of  reproduction  to  a  high  degree 
— and  the  same  natural  conditions  favor  maximum  vitality  in 
the  male.  Conditions  are  very  different  in  most  poultry  yards 
because  the  poultry-keeper  has  found  it  necessary  to  hatch 
earlier  than  the  natural  season  in  order  to  get  the  most  profit 
from  the  chicks  and  because,  in  the  case  of  the  back  yard 
poultry-keeper  in  particular,  he  has  not  space  enough  for  much 
grass  to  grow  or  to  give  extended  range.  The  breeding  season 
comes  close  after  the  severe  winter  weather  in  the  northern 
states,  and  although  it  comes  earlier  in  the  South,  the  condi- 
tions are  approximately  the  same  as  related. 


378  AMEBICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

It  often  happens  that  it  is  necessary  to  use  the  hens  for 
breeding  that  have  been  fed  for  egg  production  during  the 
winter.  The  vitaHty  of  these  hens  may  have  been  somewhat 
reduced  by  heavy  laying.  This  condition  must  be  met  by 
building  up  and  maintaining  the  strength  of  the  birds.  To 
do  this  the  methods  of  management  must  be  arranged  and 
foods  selected  so  as  to  approach  as  closely  as  possible  the 
methods  and  foods  which  Nature  uses  and  supplies  so  suc- 
cessfully later  in  the  season. 

A  Variety  of  Hard  Grains. — A  variety  of  feed  is  very  im- 
portant, for  it  is  useless  to  expect  the  fowls  to  obtain  from  any 
one  or  two  kinds  the  many  different  elements  which  are 
needed  to  build  up  and  strengthen  the  different  parts  of  the 
body  and  to  produce  the  egg  as  well.  A  variety  of  the  ordi- 
nary grains,  as  for  instance,  corn,  wheat,  and  oats,  usually 
supplies  the  needs  as  far  as  grain  is  concerned. 

The  feeding  of  these  grains  also  furnishes  an  opportunity 
to  compel  hens  which  are  in  small  quarters  to  take  exercise 
which  they  naturally  get  by  ranging  over  the  fields  in  warm 
weather.  The  floor  should  always  be  covered  with  a  litter  of 
straw,  leaves,  coarse  hay,  corn  stalks  or  shavings,  and  all 
the  whole  and  cracked  grain  buried  in  this  litter  so  that  the 
fowls  will  scratch  vigorously  to  get  it  and,  by  exercising  their 
muscles,  increase  the  flow  of  blood  in  their  arteries  and  veins, 
thus  better  nourish  the  different  parts  of  the  body.  While 
the  fowls  are  exercising,  the  windows  should  be  opened  suffi- 
ciently to  allow  them  to  breathe  the  pure  air  while  at  work. 
In  extremely  cold  weather,  a  very  small  opening  is  all  that  is 
necessary  to  keep  the  air  dry  and  pure. 

Ground  Grains  or  Mashes. — In  addition  to  the  hard  grain, 
which  is  fed  as  previously  directed,  a  mash,  either  dry  or 
damp,  is  usually  supplied.  Dry  mashes  are  fed  in  hoppers 
or  boxes  which  are  open  to  the  fowls  all  or  part  of  the  day. 
Damp  mashes  are  made  by  mixing  the  same  ingredients  which 
make  up  the  dry  mashes  with  milk  or  water  and  are  fed  in 
troughs  once  a  day,  usually.  After  each  meal  the  troughs 
are  cleaned  and  removed.  If  damp  mashes  are  allowed  to 
remain  before  the  fowls  very  long,  they  become  sour.  When 
in  this  condition  mashes  injure  the  digestive  organs  and  at  the 
same  time  are  likely  to  reduce  the  appetites  of  the  fowls,  and 
a  good  appetite  is  very  necessary  to  a  healthy  fowl. 

Animal  Foods.- — In  addition  to  the  ground  hard  grains, 
meat-foods  and  greens  must  be  supplied.    The  most  common 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  379 

methods  of  supplying  animal  food  are  by  feeding  beef-scraps  or 
the  by-products  of  milk,  though  usually  it  is  best  to  furnish 
scraps  and  bone-meal  in  addition  to  the  milk.  With  that  variety 
the  results  are  likely  to  be  more  satisfactory.  Milk  can  be  fur- 
nished as  a  drink,  if  water  is  given  in  addition,  or  may  be 
mixed  in  the  mash  and  it  may  be  given  sweet,  clabbered, 
whole  or  skimmed. 

Green  Foods. — When  fowls  are  confined,  green  food  of 
some  sort  to  take  the  place  of  the  fresh  green  grass  and  tender 
young  shoots,  which  the  hen  gets  by  ranging  freely  in  the 
fields  in  warm  weather,  must  also  be  supplied.  In  the  early 
part  of  the  breeding  season  when  the  fowls  are  to  be  put  in 
condition  for  breeding  the  poultryman  must  depend  entirely 
on  mangels,  beets,  cabbages,  sprouted  oats  and  green  stuff 
of  that  kind.  Green-cured  clover  and  alfalfa,  ground  finely  or 
cut  in  short  lengths,  are  often  added  to  the  damp  mash  or 
moistened  and  fed  separately,  furnishing  green  food  to  some 
extent,  but  it  does  not  take  the  place  of  the  fresh  succulence 
of  the  greener  foods.  It  will  not  do  to  feed  mouldy  or  spoiled 
vegetables  of  any  kind,  and  when  sprouted  oats  are  used  the 
poultryman  should  be  particularly  careful  that  they  do  not 
get  musty  or  mouldy  while  sprouting. 

Too  Fattening  Rations. — If  the  fowls  are  inclined  to  get 
too  heavy  or  too  fat,  the  more  fattening  foods  of  the  ration, 
like  corn  and  cornmeal,  should  be  reduced  in  quantity  and 
the  muscle-forming  elements  like  bran,  clover,  alfalfa  and 
meat  foods  should  be  increased.  This  answers  better  than  to 
give  less  food  if  the  fowls  are  eating  well,  because  less  food 
is  likely  to  reduce  their  strength. 

Outdoor  Exercise. — When  the  weather  is  warm  enough  to 
permit,  some  breeders  allow  their  fowls  to  get  a  part  of  their 
exercise  by  scratching  in  straw  which  is  placed  on  the  ground 
in  front  of  the  house.  In  some  cases  the  snow  is  shoveled 
away  for  that  purpose.  (H.  A.  N.) 


380  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 


CHAPTER  VI. 


THE  HEALTH  OF  THE  BREEDING  FLOCK 
IN  CONFINEMENT. 

BREEDING  fowls  that  are  kept  in  houses  or  houses  and 
small  yards  have  less  opportunity  to  keep  in  vigorous 
health  than  breeding  stock  which  is  allowed  free  range 
when  the  weather  permits,  or  has  the  run  of  extensive  yards. 
As  we  have  before  mentioned,  the  only  way  to  secure  and 
maintain  health  and  vigor  in  a  breeding  flock  is  to  provide  as 
nearly  as  possible  the  things  the  flock  would  secure  if  it  were 
running  wild  in  the  natural  breeding  season. 

Healthy  Stock.- — In  the  first  place,  the  stock  must  be 
healthy  to  start  with.  It  is  a  waste  of  time  and  money  to  at- 
tempt to  breed  health  and  strength  into  a  flock  in  confine- 
ment. With  healthy  stock  to  start  with  and  proper  surround- 
ings, proper  care  and  proper  feed,  that  health  may  be  main- 
tained to  a  satisfactory  degree ;  but  unless  surroundings,  feed 
and  care  are  as  they  should  be,  the  fowls  will  weaken  sooner 
or  later,  and  succeeding  generations  will  have  less  and  less 
vigor  as  time  goes  on. 

The  House. — A  healthful  house  is  of  the  first  importance 
and  a  house  which  furnishes  the  requirements  for  health  is 
likewise  a  comfortable  house,  and  a  comfortable  house  is  the 
most  profitable  house  to  use.  A  sufficient  amount  of  venti- 
lation to  keep  the  air  reasonably  pure,  protection  from  drafts 
and  severe  cold,  provision  for  plenty  of  sunlight  in  every  part 
of  the  house,  at  least  during  the  part  of  the  day,  are  the  prin- 
cipal requirements.  Under  such  conditions  fowls  that  are 
properly  fed  and  cared  for  will   maintain  their  vitality. 

Feeding. — Good  feeding  is  another  requisite  and  good  feed- 
ing must  include  sufficient  variety  of  the  right  kinds  of  food, 
comprising  whole  and  cracked  grains,  ground  grains,  meat 
food,  green  food,  grit,  charcoal  and  oyster  shells.  The  grain 
must  be  fed  in  deep  litter  to  encourage  exercise,  for  without 
exercise  no  fowls  remain  healthy.  Feeding  at  regular  hours 
helps  to  keep  the  digestive  organs  of  the  fowls  in  good  con- 
dition and  hens  that  have  good  digestion  are  likely  to  have 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  381 

good  health,  at  least,  so  far  as  anything  affected  by  food  is 
concerned. 

Management.^ — ^Good  care  is  of  the  utmost  importance,  and 
good  care  includes  not  only  careful  methods  of  supplying 
feed  but  careful  methods  of  adjusting  ventilation,  cleaning 
and  disinfecting  the  house,  etc.  Closing  the  house  up  too 
tightly  in  moderate  weather  and  allowing  it  to  remain  too 
open  in  severe  weather  is  a  prolific  source  of  trouble ;  colds 
develop  and  colds  weaken  the  bird's  power  of  resistance  to 
other  diseases.  Drafts  allowed  to  blow  on  the  fowls  day  or 
night,  especially  at  night  when  they  are  inactive  on  the  roosts, 
will  be  likely  to  cause  colds  in  the  flock.  When  kept  upon 
filthy  or  damp  floors  or  litter,  fowls  are  uncomfortable  and 
soon  get  into  such  condition  that  they  are  easily  affected  by 
any  kind  of  disease  germs. 

Unclean  nests  not  only  injure  the  eggs  laid  there  but 
menace  the  health  of  the  hens.  Filthy  dropping  boards  fur- 
nish a  place  for  the  breeding  of  germs  of  disease  and  vermin. 
All  these  fittings  should  be  kept  clean  and  should  be  disin- 
fected occasionally.  Vermin  must  not  be  allowed  to  get  a 
foothold.  It  not  only  makes  the  fowls  uncomfortable,  but 
actually  tortures  them  in  some  cases  and  by  so  doing  reduces 
their  strength  and  vitality. 

New  Blood. — When  adding  new  blood  to  the  stock,  ex- 
treme care  should  be  taken  to  obtain  the  most  vigorous  and 
healthy  birds,  for  anything  else  not  only  fails  to  assist  in 
maintaining  the  health  of  the  flock,  but  it  reduces  the  neces- 
sary vitality.  (H.  A.  N.) 


WHITE  WYANDOTTE  CHICKS,  TWO  DAYS  OLD. 
Little  chicks   of   this   variety   vary   in   color   from   white   to  a   smoky 
gray,  as  shown  above. 


382  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

SECTION    II. 

THE  YOUNG  STOCK. 

CHAPTER  I. 

HATCHING   AND   BROODING. 

IN  MOST  CASES  the  keeper  of  a  back  yard  flock  depends 
on  the  old  hen  that  can  cover  thirteen  to  fifteen  eggs  to  do 
the  hatching  and  she  is  as  often  entrusted  with  the  busi- 
ness of  brooding  the  chicks.  If  the  hens  begin  laying  in  the 
fall  or  early  winter,  there  are  sure  to  be  some  broody  ones 
among-  any  of  the  varieties  of  Wyandottes  by  March  first, 
which  is  as  early  as  most  poultry-keepers  care  to  set  hens. 
If  the  hens  do  not  become  broody  early  enough,  or  if  the 
poultry-keeper  prefers  to  break  up  those  which  do  become 
broody  in  order  to  get  them  to  laying  again,  and  use  their 
eggs  for  hatching,  a  small  incubator  is  a  practical  necessity. 
All  the  high-grade  makes  will  give  satisfactory  results  if 
properly  handled  and  supplied  with  good  eggs.  Furthermore, 
they  are  so  perfected  that  they  require  but  little  care  and  are 
safe  and  also  easy  to  handle.  Inasmuch  as  complete  instruc- 
tions for  operating  are  supplied  with  each  machine,  it  is  not 
necessary  to  describe  these  methods  in  this  book. 

The  Sitting  Hen's  Nest. — Setting  a  hen  is  a  more  important 
and  exacting  matter  than  most  people  think.  Many  hatches 
are  spoiled  because  the  nests  are  not  properly  made.  It  is 
unreasonable  to  expect  a  hen  to  distribute  her  warmth  over 
a  large  area  and  still  have  enough  to  incubate  the  eggs,  par- 
ticularly in  cold  weather.  A  warm  nest  is  absolutely  neces- 
sary and  that  means  that  it  must  be  made,  or  at  least  lined, 
with  a  fine  material,  such  as  fine,  soft  hay  and  be  built  in  a 
good  warm  box.  The  sides  of  the  box,  however,  should  not 
be  so  high  that  the  hen  will  land  heavily  on  the  eggs  when 
getting  down  into  the  nest,  or  one  side  must  be  cut  down  to 
allow  her  to  enter  easily.  At  the  same  time  the  box  must  be 
deep  enough  to  extend  well  up  around  the  side  of  the  hen's 
body  and  of  the  right  size  so  that  the  hen  will  fit  snugly  to 
the  nest,  so  that  the  heat  of  her  body  may  be  adequate  for 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  383 

incubation,  even  in  cold  weather.  The  bottom  of  the  nest 
should  be  slightly  lower  in  the  center  so  that  the  eggs  will 
tend  to  keep  closely  together,  but  if  the  nest  is  too  deep  in 
the  center,  the  eggs  are  more  apt  to  be  crushed  or  broken. 
Just  enough  gradual  drop  is  necessary  to  keep  the  eggs  under 
the  hen  and  in  the  center  of  the  nest.  Less  chicks  are  crushed 
during  hatching  in  a  nest  that  is  flat  or  almost  flat,  therefore 
the  nest  may  be  flattened  by  removing  the  material  on  the 
outside  when  hatching  time  arrives,  so  that  the  eggs  on  the 
outside  will  not  exert  too  much  pressure  on  the  newly  hatched 
chicks,  or  on  the  chicks  that  are  partly  out  of  the  shell  and 
are  located  in  the  center  of  the  nest. 

Care  During  the  Sitting  Period. — Vermin  must  not  be 
allowed  to  exist  on  a  sitting  hen,  and  she  should  have  her 
plumage  treated  with  lice  killing  powder  just  before  she  is 
set,  and  again  every  six  days,  the  last  time  at  least  twenty- 
four  hours  before  the  chicks  are  expected  to  break  the  shell. 
Usually  the  hen  will  do  well  while  sitting  if  fed  on  a  variety 
of  hard  grains,  but  many  poultry-keepers  depend  entirely  on 
corn,  and  we  have  had  good  results  by  feeding  that  grain 
alone  during  the  incubating  period,  perhaps  because  corn 
is  a  heating  food,  and  the  hen  requires  considerable  of  that 
kind  of  nourishment  to  keep  up  the  incubating  temperature. 
To  assist  digestion  a  supply  of  grit  and  charcoal  should  always 
be  ready  when  the  hen  comes  off  the  nest,  as  well  as  plenty 
of  fresh,  clean  water.  The  hen  should  leave  the  nest  once  a 
day,  and  usually  the  morning  is  the  best  time.  The  hen 
knows  when  feeding  times  come  and  is  nervous  and  restless 
if  it  is  allowed  to  pass  without  feed  being  given  her.  This 
results  in  a  complete  or  partial  loss  of  the  eggs.  Hence, 
punctuality  and  regularity  in  feeding  and  care  are  vitally  im- 
portant. 

Care  at  Hatching  Period. — AVhen  the  chicks  are  hatching, 
it  is  well  to  remove  the  empty  shells  so  that  they  will  not  cap 
the  unhatched  eggs  and  perhaps  prevent  the  chicks  from 
getting  out.  When  the  hatch  is  complete  the  hen  should  be 
encouraged  to  stay  on  the  nest  for  twenty-four  hours,  after 
she  has  been  taken  ofif,  fed,  and  returned.  In  cold  weather, 
the  chicks  should  be  covered  with  a  warm  cloth  while  the 
mother  hen  is  being  fed. 

Care  of  Baby  Chicks. — When  they  are  from  twenty-four  to 
thirty-six  hours  old.  the  hen  and  brood  should  be  removed  to 
the  brood  coop  and  it  is  best  to  darken  the  coop  at  intervals 


384 


AMERICAN   POULTRY   ASSOCIATION 


during  the  first  day  so  that  the  hen  will  brood  the  chicks 
frequently  and  conserve  their  strength.  Unless  the  weather 
is  warm  the  brood  coop  should  not  be  placed  outdoors,  but 
should  be  given  a  place  in  a  well  lighted  building  which  is 
clean  and  which  has  been  thoroughly  disinfected  if  neces- 
sary. In  warm  weather  the  little  chicks  can  be  moved  to  a 
coop  on  the  warm  ground  immediately,  and  should  always 
be  given  fresh  green  grassy  runs.  They  should  not  be  put 
where  older  broods  or  fowls  have  been  running  earlier  in 
the  season. 

Feeding  the  Baby  Chick. — The  first  feed  may  be  stale  but 
not  musty  or  mouldy  bread,  moistened  with  milk  and  then 
squeezed  quite  dry,  with  a  httle  grit  and  a  little  finely  granu- 
lated charcoal  sprinkled  on  it;  johnny  cake  baked  hard,  crum- 
bled and  fed  dry;  hard  boiled  egg  chopped  fine  and  mixed 
half  and  half  with  bread  crumbs;  steel  cut  oatmeal,  or  any  of 
the  numerous,  satisfactory  rations  given  to  little  chicks  by 
successful  poultry-keepers.  Sometimes  the  chicks  are  started 
from  the  very  first  on  prepared  chick  feeds,  made  from  finely 


NESTS  FOR  SETTING  HENS,   BUILT  IN   PAIRS. 

Placed  on  the  ground  or  floor  in  any  building  if  secluded.  By  this 
arrangement  the  hens  may  be  fastened  on  and  fed  at  regular  intervals 
or  allowed  to  come  off  and  go  on  at  will. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD   AND   BREED   BOOK 


385 


cracked  grains,  and  when  they  can  have  plenty  of  outdoor 
exercise  they  will  do  well  on  such  a  ration.  They  should  be 
fed  five  times  a  day  at  the  start.  Milk  is  especially  good  for 
little  chicks,  but  plenty  of  clean  water  must  also  be  provided, 
for  milk  will  not  take  its  place.  A  little  lettuce  or  a  tender 
cabbage  leaf  may  be  given  each  day  from  the  first.  No  better 
green  food  can  be  supplied  young  chicks  than  short,  tender 
grass  on  the  sod. 

Cleanliness,  plenty  of  pure  air,  warmth,  protection  from 
chilling  winds,  and  lots  of  sunlight  are  essential  to  the  well 
Ijeing  of  the  little  chicks. 

The  Artificial  Method. — If  incubators  are  used,  the  chicks 
should  remain  in  the  incubator  until  they  are  from  twenty- 
four  to  thirty-six  hours  old.  They  should  then  be  removed 
to  the  brooder,  which  should  occupy  a  well  lighted,  clean 
room  where  there  is  plenty  of  sun.  The  hover  should  pre- 
\iously  have  been  warmed  to  a  temperature  of  about  ninety 
degrees.  After  the  chicks  are  in,  their  animal  heat  will  raise 
the  temperature  from  ninety  to  about  ninety-five  degrees. 

It  is  advisable  to  keep  the  youngsters  under  the  hover  most 
of  the  time  during  the  first  twenty-four  hours,  letting  them 
out  at  frecjuent  intervals  to  become  accustomed  to  the  brooder, 
and  to  drink  a  little  water  and  eat  a  little  food.  After  the 
first  day  they  may  be  allowed  to  go  in  and  out  at  will,  unless 
they  are  found  to  crowd  in  the  corners,  when  they  must  be 
returned  to  the  hover  until  warm  again,  for  crowding  in  out- 
side corners  always  means  that  they  are  chill}-.      (H.  A.   N. ) 


^^|!#i^ 


WHITE  WYANDOTTE  CHICKS,  SHOWING  GRAY  COLOR. 
The    little   chicks    which    show    considerable    gray   color    when    young 
often  make  the  whitest  fowls  when  mature. 


386  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

CHAPTER  II. 

CARE  OF  THE  GROWING  STOCK. 

AK'1M^2R  the  little  chicks  are  well  started  on  life's  journey, 
under  the  old  hen  or  in  the  brooder,  it  is  necessary  to 
see  that  they  have  proper  care  throughout  the  growing 
period.  A  setback  at  any  time  in  their  growth  can  never  be 
entirely  overcome  and  the  more  severe  the  setback,  the  greater 
the  harm.  The  brood  should  be  kept  with  the  hen  or  in  the 
brt)oder  as  long  as  artificial  heat  is  necessary,  which  is  until 
they  are  well  covered  with  their  chicken  feathers  and  some- 
times longer,  depending  on  the  season  of  the  year.  They  may, 
of  course,  remain  in  the  same  c^uarters  if  the  weather  continues 
cold  and  be  allowed  to  run  out  doors  only  when  conditions  are 
favorable.  Unless  the  accommodations  are  ample,  they  are 
likely  to  soon  outgrow  them  and  more  room  must  be  fur- 
nished. A  brood  mothered  by  a  hen  can  sometimes  be  kept 
in  a  good  sized  brood  coop  for  a  short  time  after  the  hen  weans 
them,  but  they  soon  fill  a  coop  of  ordinary  size  so  completely 
that  they  are  crowded  at  night.  Before  that  occurs  they 
should  be  removed  to  what  are  generally  known  as  roosting 
coops. 

Roosting  Coops. — These  roosting  coops  are  of  various 
sizes,  but  a  common  size  is  six  feet  long,  three  feet  wide,  three 
feet  high  in  front  and  two  feet  high  at  the  rear.  If  the  chicks 
use  these  little  buildings  during  the  heat  of  the  summer,  it  is 
customary  to  make  the  front  entirely  of  wire  netting  or  slats, 
so  that  the  air  can  circulate  freely.  To  provide  protection 
against  the  storms  and  occasional  cool  weather,  especially 
in  the  fall,  a  burlap  or  cotton  cloth  curtain  is  often  arranged 
so  that  it  can  be  rolled  or  dropped  down  to  cover  the  open 
side,  in  this  way  shutting  out  strong  winds  and  driving  rains. 
This  curtain  should  not  be  kept  down  except  when  necessary 
for  the  before  mentioned  reasons,  because  at  any  other  time 
it  confines  the  air  too  much  and  makes  it  too  warm  for  the 
youngsters. 

When  the  brooder  chicks  are  ready  to  be  put  out  on  the 
range,  that  is,  when  they  no  longer  need  the  protection  of  the 
brooder  or  colony  house  in  which  the  brooder  is  operated, 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  387 

they  are  usually  put  into  the  roosting-  coops  which  are  dis- 
tributed over  the  range.  The  same  procedure  is  followed  in 
the  case  of  hen-brooded  chicks. 

Rearing  in  Restricted  Quarters. — The  back  yard  poultry 
keeper  faces  a  serious  situation  when  attempting  to  rear 
chicks,  yet  good  results  can  be  obtained  on  a  small  area.  If 
one  has  no  more  room  than  is  necessary  for  the  fowls,  it  is 
useless  to  try  to  raise  chicks  in  his  back  yard,  because  chicks 
cannot  occupy  the  same  ground  as  the  fowls  and  do  well; 
nor  can  they  occupy  ground  that  has  been  fouled  to  any  ex- 
tent. Under  such  conditions,  arrangements  must  be  made 
to  have  the  chicks  grown  away  from  home,  and  care  should 
be  taken  to  get  them  into  the  right  hands  and  to  be  sure  that 
they  have  suitable  quarters  and  proper  feed.  If  the  home 
quarters  are  of  a  fair  size,  it  is  possible  to  grow  very  good 
chickens  by  giving  them  extra  care.  The  same  method  of 
cooping  should  be  followed  as  if  they  were  on  range  and  the 
outdoor  runs  should  be  frequently  spaded  over.  The  location 
of  the  coop  and  yard  should  be  changed  every  few  days  if 
possible,  and  some  small  grain  which  sprouts  quickly  planted 
in  each  spot  as  soon  as  it  is  vacated.  As  the  chick  can  not 
develop  muscle  and  will  not  be  healthy  or  strong  without 
exercise,  they  must  be  made  to  scratch  vigorously  in  litter 
for  the  dry  grain  part  of  their  ration. 

Cleanliness  is  absolutely  necessary  in  all  cases,  and  the 
coop  must  be  cleaned  at  frequent  intervals  and  occasionally 
disinfected,  especially  the  floor.  If,  as  the  chicks  grow,  they 
fill  the  coop  to  a  point  where  it  becomes  crowded,  the  flocks 
must  be  divided,  for  each  chick  should  have  ample  room  to 
sit  on  the  floor  comfortably  at  night.  When  the  youngsters 
are  half-grown  they  may  be  given  roosts  placed  lengthwise 
of  the  coop,  two  being  as  many  as  can  be  used  satisfactorily 
in  a  coop  of  the  dimensions  we  have  mentioned.  These  roosts 
should  be  of  good  size,  but  round  enough  on  top  so  that  the 
toes  of  the  chicks  can  curl  around  them,  as  Nature  intended, 
when  the  chicks  sit  down. 

Lice  will  injure  or  even  destroy  a  flock  of  chicks  if  given 
any  lee-way,  and  liquid  mite  killer  should  be  used  on  the 
floors  of  the  coops  and  on  the  roosts  when  the  roosts  are 
put  in.  The  chicks  should  be  dusted  thoroughly  with  a  lice 
killing  powder,  if  any  lice  are  discovered  on  them,  and  one 
should  search  industriously  for  vermin  at  frequent  intervals. 
(H.  A.  N.) 


388  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

CHAPTER  HI. 
FEEDING  FOR  GROWTH. 

TIII{Iv![  arc  xariuus  methods  of  fetding  growing  chicks, 
many  of  which  are  entirely  satisfactory.  The  test  is 
whether  or  not  they  produce  the  desired  results.  A 
great  many  different  food  elements  are  rec[uired  to  nourish 
properlv  the  different  parts  of  the  chick's  body,  and  unless 
fodd  is  gixen  in  reasonal)le  variety  the  chick  usually  cannot 
I'lnain,  from  what  is  given  it,  enough  of  all  the  elements  re- 
quired to  make  satisfactory  growth.  Obviously,  if  too  much 
fat  forming  material  is  given  and  too  little  of  the  material  that 
makes  the  lean  meat  and  muscle,  the  chick  can  not  develop  as 
it  should.  A  chick  on  free  range  can  sometimes  overcome  mis- 
takes in  feeding  by  collecting  from  the  range  the  different 
food  elements  which  it  requires  l)ut  does  not  obtain  from  the 
food  provided. 

In  the  back  yard  poultry  keepers'  little  flock  of  young,  this 
can  not  be  done,  and  the  owner  must  be  careful  to  furnish  a 
reasonably  well  balanced  ration. 

A  good  ration  for  chicks  from  two  weeks  to  one  month  old 
is  as  follows : 

A  mash  consisting  of  three  parts  each  (by  weight)  of 
wheat  bran  and  cornmeal,  one  part  wheat  middlings  and  one 
part  beef  scraps,  mixed  dry  and  kept  before  them  in  hoppers ; 
a  mixture  of  three  parts  cracked  wheat,  two  parts  finely 
cracked  corn  and  one  part  pinhead  oatmeal,  fed  in  a  litter  in 
order  to  compel  them  to  scratch  for  it.  During  the  second 
month  of  their  lives,  the  same  dry  mash  may  be  always  avail- 
able and  a  mixture  of  three  parts  wheat,  two  parts  cracked 
corn  and  one  part  of  hulled  oats  may  be  given  for  scratch 
feed.  From  the  end  of  that  time  until  they  are  grown  they 
should  have  constantly  before  them  in  hoppers,  a  dry  mix- 
ture consisting  of  three  parts  wheat  bran,  three  parts  wheat 
middlings,  three  parts  cornmeal,  and  two  parts  beef  scraps, 
and  a  scratch  mixture  of  equal  parts  of  wheat  and  cracked 
corn,  if  they  are  on  free  range.  If  not  on  free  range,  the 
scratch  mixture  should  be  given  in  a  litter,  to  induce  exercise, 
twice  a  day.  The  same  mash  may  be  mixed  with  water,  or 
sweet  or  sour  milk,  and  fed  once  a  day,  in  addition,  to  hasten 
development. 


WYANDOTTE  STAXDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  389 

Very  simple  rations  sometimes  prove  quite  effective  when 
chicks  are  on  free  range.  A  hopper  of  beef  scraps  and  a 
hopper  of  cracked  corn  constantly  in  reach  is  said  to  grow 
excellent  chicks,  the  corn  furnishing  the  heating  and  fatten- 
ing part  of  the  ration,  and  the  beef  scraps  the  material  of 
which  to  make  solid  flesh.  Of  course,  the  chicks  pick  up  the 
green  stuff'  and  other  food  on  the  range.  We  would  not  ad- 
vise anyone  to  feed  such  a  ration  to  chicks  confined  in  yards, 
because,  if  there  were  no  other  arguments  against  it,  it  is 
plain  that  the  chicks  would  soon  tire  of  it. 

Chicks  in  yards  must  always  be  furnished  green  stuff"  once 
each  day,  but  none  should  be  allowed  to  remain  after  they  have 
satisfied  their  appetites,  because  it  soon  becomes  unwhole- 
some, (irit  and  charcoal  should  always  be  available  and  plenty 
of  fresh  water  must  be  furnished.  If  milk  can  be  given  them 
to  drink  in  addition  to  water,  l:)etter  growth  will  result. 
(II.  A.N). 


COLONY  COOP  FOR  YOUNG  CHICKS. 

Design  from  Minnesota  Agricultural  College.  Capacity  three  or 
four  hens  and  50  or  60  small  chicks.  Later  twenty-four  larger  chicks. 
Front  can  be  protected  during  stormy  weather  l)y  bran  sacks  at 
either  end. 


PART    SIX. 


UTILITY    FEATURES    OF   THE 
WYANDOTTES. 


SECTION  I.     MARKET  QUALITIES  OF  THE 
WYANDOTTES. 


Chapter  I.  THE     TERM     "UTILITY"     EX- 

PLAINED. 

Chapter  II.        THE  WYANDOTTE  AS  A  GENERAL 
PURPOSE  FOWL. 

Chapter  HI.      THE  WYANDOTTE  AS  A  MARKET 
FOWL. 


SECTION    II.     WYANDOTTES    AS    PROLIFIC    EGG 
PRODUCERS. 

Chapter  I.         WYANDOTTES  FOR  EGGS. 

Chapter  II.        WYANDOTTES    IN    EGG    LAYING 
CONTESTS. 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  391 


SECTION    I. 

MARKET  QUALITIES  OF  THE 
WYANDOTTES. 

CHAPTER  I. 

THE  TERM   "UTILITY"   EXPLAINED. 

THE  CHAPTER  ON  THE  utility  feature  of  the  Wyan- 
dotte fowl  may  very  well  contain  a  definition  of 
what  is  meant  by  the  term  "utility."  It  is  so  often 
misused  that,  far  contrary  to  its  real  meaning-,  it  has  come 
to  mean  to  many  not  much  more  than  lack  of  Standard  qual- 
ity. This  is  due  to  the  fact  that  it  has  become  a  custom  among 
fanciers  to  sell  or  offer  for  sale  all  the  stock  that  does  not 
meet  the  requirements  of  the  Standard  of  Perfection  in  a 
degree  to  meet  the  approval  of  those  that  buy  it  on  that  basis 
as  "utility"  stock,  or  eggs  from  such  stock  as  "utility"  eggs. 
In  many  cases,  not  only  the  quality  but  the  vitality  of  such 
stock  has  become  so  inferior  that  the  term  has  fallen  into 
disrepute.  "Utility-stock"  now  means  to  a  great  many  who 
have  perhaps  suffered  in  their  transactions  along  this  line 
with  unprincipled  breeders  and  dealers,  and  we  are  thankful 
that  it  is  usually  the  latter,  simply  something  that  is  unfit  to 
sell  as  Standard-bred  stock.  This  application  of  the  word  is 
to  be  regretted  as  "Utility-stock"  should  be  desirable  stock 
that  is  useable  for  its  purpose,  and  the  word  utility  should  be 
held  to  its  original  meaning  when  it  applies  either  to  breed- 
ing or  to  sales. 

"Utility-stock"  is  that  which  yields  a  useful  product.  The 
utility  products  from  poultry  are  two  only,  flesh  and  eggs. 
Stock  that  will  produce  progeny  of  a  superior  meat  quality,  or 
that  grows  and  produces  flesh  more  rapidly  than  does  ordinary 
stock  is  entitled  to  the  term  "utility,"  and  such  stock  does 
not  discount  itself  or  discredit  the  term. 

"Utility-stock"  should  have  utility  quality,  and  should  not 
be  confused  with  Standard-bred  specimens  of  poor  quality.  To 
be  such  is  the  result  of  accident  very  often.     To  improve  any 


392  AMERICAN  POULTRY  AHHOCIATION 

quality  in  any  stock,  the  most  satisfactory  results  are  obtained 
by  selecting-  for  that  (:|ua!ity. 

Standard-bred  Fowls,  Useful. — It  is  a  noteworthy  fact  and 
the  most  convincing  refutation  to  any  imputation  that  Stand- 
ard-bred poultry  is  ornamental  rather  than  useful,  that  in  the 
beginning  all  of  our  American  breeds  originated  with  men  who 
were  interested  in  poultry  in  a  practical  way  and  not  as  fan- 
ciers ;  consequently,  these  breeds  took  on  at  the  start  a  practi- 
cal rather  than  a  fanciful  aspect.  Both  aspects  have  been  im- 
proved. That  our  American  breeds,  including  all  varieties  of 
Wyandottes,  have  improved  in  appearance,  everyone'  inter- 
ested is  aware,  but  that  they  have  impro\ed  in  usefulness 
and  productiveness  some  may  not  be  disposed  to  admit,  yet  all 
available  records,  both  public  and  private,  show  such  an  enor- 
mous advance  in  these  respects  as  to  be  almost  incredible,  not 
only  to  those  skeptically  inclined  but  to  all,  except  the  com- 
paratively small  number  who  because  of  business  or  other 
interests  follow  the  results  of  such  tests  most  closely. 

It  should  not  be  concluded  from  the  foregoing  statement 
that  fowls  should  be  bred  to  improve  in  one  particular  alone  ; 
although,  it  often  happens  that  a  specimen  of  the  most  i)ro- 
nounced  degree  of  excellency  in  a  certain  particular  is  often 
so  deficient  in  other  requirements  that  no  one  of  good  judg- 
ment would  use  it  in  a  breeding  capacity,  and  for  that  reason 
alone  it  often  happens  that  we  do  not  acquire  one  quality  as 
rapidly  or  in  as  marked  a  degree  as  though  we  limited  our 
selections  for  that  one  quality  alone. 

Yet  rapid  growth  and  laying  qualities  are  very  dependent 
upon  health  and  vigor,  and  when  selections  for  these  qualities 
are  the  rule,  more  producti\-e  fowls  are  l)rcd.     (A.  C.  S.) 


WYANDOTTE  STANDARD   AND   BREED  BOOK  393 

CHAPTER  II. 
THE  WYANDOTTE  AS  A  GENERAL  PURPOSE  FOWL. 

A  GENERAL  purpose  fowl,  as  the  term  is  generally  used, 
means  a  fowl  which  is  good  for  all  of  the  so-called  prac- 
tical or  utility  purposes.  That  is,  a  fowl  that  is  satis- 
factory and  profitable  to  keep  for  eggs  and  for  meat  on  city 
back  lots,  village  places  and  on  farms ;  a  fowl  that  is  useful  as 
a  producer  of  eggs  and  flesh  for  use  at  home  or  to  sell  in  the 
market,  in  large  or  small  quantities. 

All  varieties  of  the  Wyandotte  have  the  same  shape,  size 
and  weight,  according  to  the  requirements  of  the  American 
Standard  of  Perfection,  and  this  shape  and  size  is  unusually 
conducive  to  the  successful  and  economioal  production  of  table 
poultry  products.  Its  medium  size,  full,  deep  breast  and  well- 
rounded,  full  lines  make  it  excellent  for  meat  production  and 
enable  it  to  carry  a  large  amount  of  edible  flesh  in  proportion 
to  its  frame. 

For  broilers  the  Wyandotte  has  no  superior,  and  this  ap- 
plies to  all  varieties,  since  all  varieties  have  the  same  confor- 
mation. It  grows  quickly  if  from  strong  and  vigorous  parent- 
age and  when  eight  to  twelve  weeks  old  (the  broiler  age)  it 
carries  a  nice  amount  of  meat  and  attains  good  size.  For  the 
smaller,  or  "squab,"  broilers  the  Wyandotte  is  equally  good, 
for  at  any  time  after  it  is  large  enough  to  eat  it  is  well  fleshed 
if  properly  fed  and  cared  for.  For  the  production  of  roasting 
chickens,  weighing  from  four  to  five  pounds  each,  it  is  ex- 
cellent, and  when  allowed  to  attain  maturity  and  is  dressed 
and  sold  as  a  fowl  the  same  plumpness  recommends  it  to  all 
consumers.  In  many  markets  medium  sized  fowls  are  pre- 
ferred, especially  when  catering  to  the  needs  of  small  fam- 
ilies. 

The  length  and  depth  of  body  is  sufficient  to  give  the  egg 
producing  organs  an  opportunity  to  be  profitably  active  when 
the  proper  food  is  provided.  The  Wyandotte  will  lay  equally 
well  when  confined  to  a  small  house  and  yard  on  the  city  lot, 
when  kept  on  the  village  half-acre  and  when  on  the  broad 
range  of  the  farm,  provided  reasonable  care  is  taken  to  supply 


394  AMERICAX  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

the  necessary  feeds  from  which  the  fowl  can  obtain  the  ele- 
ments necessary  to  make  eggs. 

In  addition  to  their  usefulness  for  market  purposes,  the 
attractive  shape  and  beautiful  color  of  each  variety  make  them 
especially  desirable  to  keep  for  pleasure,  and  when  well-bred 
there  is  an  added  enjoyment  to  be  obtained  by  showing  them, 
for  those  who  desire  to  do  so,  and  an  additional  profit  to 
be  made  by  selling  specimens  for  exhibition  and  breeding  and 
eggs  for  hatching.     (H.  A.  N.) 


WYAXDOTTE  STANDARD   AND   BREED   BOOK  395 


CHAPTER  III. 


THE  WYANDOTTE  AS  A  MARKET  FOWL. 

NO  breed  of  fowls  has  ever  been  produced  that  has  won 
more  universal  approval  than  the  Wyandotte.  The  pres- 
ent practical  age  demands  a  bird  that  is  reasonably- 
early  in  maturing,  and  the  market  fowl  of  five  or  six  pounds 
finds  greater  favor  than  one  weighing  eight  or  ten  pounds. 
The  W3^andotte,  being  cobby  and  full-breasted,  makes  a  very 
neat,  plump  carcass,  while  its  habit  of  growth  is  entirely  un- 
like that  of  the  other  general  purpose  breeds.  The  Rock,  Or- 
pington and  Rhode  Island  Red  up  to  five  months  of  age  are 
growing  a  framework  to  be  covered,  as  they  mature,  with 
meat.  The  Wyandotte  grows  flesh  and  bone  at  the  same  time 
and  is  always  ready  for  market  from  broiler  size  to  medium 
sized  roaster.  In  fact,  with  proper  feed  and  care  there  is  never 
a  time  in  the  life  of  a  Wyandotte,  from  six  weeks  of  age  to 
maturity,  that  it  is  not  ready  for  the  table. 

Wyandotte  chicks  are  very  vigorous,  active  and  stand  forc- 
ing remarkably  well.  For  the  past  fifteen  years  I  have  hatched, 
each  year,  over  two  thousand  chicks  in  the  months  of  Janu- 
ary and  February.  My  losses  are  remarkably  small  and  al- 
though we  force  them  for  rapid  growth,  I  can  honestly  say 
tha*-  'n  the  last  five  years  we  have  not  lost  a  dozen  chicks  from 
leg  weakness.  They  simply  thrive  under  heavy  feeding  and 
this  is  a  very  important  consideration  in  a  broiler.  They  will 
weigh  two  pounds  in  eight  to  ten  weeks  without  any  trouble 
and  when  marketed  they  always  bring  the  very  highest  price. 
In  fact,  I  have  never  had  any  difficulty  in  getting  from  ten  to 
twenty-five  cents  per  pound  above  the  market  price  for  Wyan- 
dotte broilers  because  of  their  plump,  attractive  carcasses. 
From  broiler  size  they  develop  rapidly  and  at  every  stage  they 
are  plump  and  meaty.  The  standard  weight  for  Wyandotte 
cockerels  is  seven  and  one-half  pounds  and  for  Wyandotte  pul- 
lets, five  and  one-half  pounds.  These  weights  have  proved  to 
be  ideal  from  a  utility  standpoint  and  it  is  not  difficult  to  bring 
them  up  to  these  weights,  in  from  five  to  six  months.  This 
rapid  growth  and  quick  maturity  place  the  Wyandotte   in  a 


396  AMERICAN  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

class  by  itself,  because  you  can  bring  it  up  to  the  roaster  stage 
in  less  time  than  any  of  the  other  market  breeds,  and  the  first 
birds  on  the  market  always  bring  the  best  prices. 

Another  consideration  in  a  market  fowl  is  the  cost  per 
pound  to  produce  the  finished  carcass.  Here  again,  the  Wyan- 
dottee  compares  most  favorably  with  other  breeds.  Being  of  a 
gentle,  docile  dispositon,  on  account  of  its  Cochin  ancestry, 
it  stands  confinement  remarkkably  well  and  thrives  in  very 
limited  quarters.  Then  again,  it  is  not  a  heavy  feeder  and 
from  an  economic  standpoint  this  is  most  desirable.  In  fact, 
I  think  I  am  safe  in  saying  that  you  can  produce  a  pound  of 
Wyandotte  carcass  with  less  feed  than  you  can  a  pound  of 
any  of  the  other  heavy  breeds. 

If  you  handle  a  young  matured  Wyandotte,  you  will 
find  that  the  breast  is  not  wedge  shaped,  but  rounded.  This  is 
caused  by  the  keel  being  fairly  shallow  and  with  both  sides 
covered  with  layer  after  layer  of  meat. 

The  distinguishing  characteristics  of  a  Wyandotte  are  its 
rose  comb  and  its  typical  shape.  The  most  important  feature 
of  a  typical-shaped  Wyandotte  is  a  full,  well-rounded  breast 
and  this  is  a  case  where  fancy  and  utility  qualities  harmonize, 
as  they  should. 

When  you  examine  the  dressed  carcass,  you  will  find  that 
the  skin  is  smooth  and  flexible.  This  indicates  that  the  meat  is 
fine  in  texture.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  there  is  nothing  finer  and 
the  flesh  of  the  Wyandotte  is  juicy  and  delicious,  fit  for  the 
table  of  an  epicure. 

Among  the  large  poultry  shows,  Boston  oflrers  classes  for 
dressed  poultry.  In  fact,  the  beautiful  exhibits  of  dressed 
fowls  are  a  feature  of  this  show  and  always  attract  great  in- 
terest. For  years  Wayndottes  have  captured  the  Sweepstakes 
prize,  proving  conclusively  their  claim  to  be  called  the  market 
fowl  "par  excellence."      (J.  S.  M.) 


WYAXDOTTE  STANDARD  AND  BREED  BOOK  397 


SECTION     II. 

WYANDOTTES  AS  PROLIFIC  EGG 
PRODUCERS 

CHAPTER  I. 
WYANDOTTES  FOR  EGGS. 

THE  Wyandotte  holds  a  unique  position  among  the  heavy- 
breeds.  It  is  really  the  only  breed  that  has  been  able  to 
dispute  the  supremacy  of  the  White  Leg-horn  and  when 
you  take  into  consideration  the  fact  that  the  Wyandotte  is  a 
general  purpose  breed,  and  twice  as  large  as  the  Leghorn,  it 
makes  it  all  the  more  wonderful.  However,  when  we  consider 
the  ancestry  of  the  Wyandotte  we  find  that  the  Hamburg  was 
largely  used  and  many  go  so  far  as  to  say  that  the  original 
Wyandotte  was  fully  one-half  Hamburg  in  origin  and  the 
other  half  principally  Cochin  and  Brahma.  At  any  rate  this 
would  account  for  the  wonderful  laying  ability  of  the  AVyan- 
dotte.  The  Hamburg  was  known  as  the  "Dutch  everlasting 
layer"  and  was  a  very  persistent  layer.  True  they  laid  an  egg 
too  small  to  find  favor  with  the  market  poultry  man,  but  they 
laid  plenty  of  them  to  make  up.  The  Cochin  and  the  Dark 
Brahma  are  both  splendid  winter  layers  and  by  a  blending  of 
these  three  breeds,  we  have  a  new  breed  of  medium  size  that  is 
simply  a  phenomenal  all-year  layer. 

A'ly  first  experience  with  the  Wyandotte  took  place  over 
twenty  years  ago.  A  friend  of  mine  had  a  pen  of  Golden 
Wyandottes  and  during  the  very  cold  winter  of  1899  he  was 
getting  a  wonderful  egg  yield.  I  naturally  supposed  he  had  a 
good  comfortable  pen  and  was  giving  them  the  very  best  of 
care.  One  day  I  went  to  see  his  birds  and  was  amazed  to 
find  them  housed  in  nothing  more  than  an  open  shed  and  get- 
ting hard  grain  twice  a  day.  This  set  me  thinking,  because 
he  was  getting  far  better  results  than  I  was  getting  from  my 
Rock  pullets,  with  double  the  care.  The  next  season,  I  pur- 
chased  several   sittings    of   White   Wyandotte   eggs    and   the 


398  AMEBICAX  POULTRY  A8S0CIATI0X 

chicks  came  out  between  the  latter  part  of  May  and  the  mid- 
dle of  June.  I  had  twenty  Wyandotte  pullets  and  also  forty 
Rock  pullets  hatched  in  May.  Both  lots  had  equal  care,  but 
the  Wyandotte  pullets  outlaid  the  Rock  pullets,  two  to  one. 
After  a  repetition  of  this  the  following  winter,  I  decided  that 
the  Wyandotte  was  the  fowl  for  me.  Of  course,  it  might  be 
argued  that  this  was  an  exceptional  case  and  that  the  question 
of  strain  might  largely  account  for  the  difference.  At  the 
same  time,  the  laying  contests  held  in  America  and  also  in 
other  parts  of  the  world,  extending  over  many  years,  led  us  to 
conclude  that  the  Wyandotte  has  no  superior  among  the  heavy 
breeds  and  when  it  comes  to  the  White  Leghorn,  it  is  simply  a 
matter  of  strain.  In  other  words,  there  is  very  little  choice 
between  a  good  laying  strain  of  Wyandottes  and  a  good  lay- 
ing strain  of  Leghorns.  However,  in  view  of  the  fact  that  the 
Wyandotte  excels  as  a  winter  layer  and  the  Leghorn  as  a  sum- 
mer layer,  it  makes  the  value  of  the  eggs  laid  by  the  Wyan- 
dotte considerably  higher  for  the  year. 

To  illustrate  my  point,  I  wish  to  quote  the  following  table 
taken  from  page  232  of  Bulletin  87,  issued  by  the  Storrs  Agri- 
cultural Experiment  Station,  Storrs,  Conn.,  describing  the 
Fourth  Annual  Laying  Contest : 

A'^alue  of  Return  Above 
Breed —  Eggs  Eggs  Feed  Cost 

Wyandottes   1.650 $45.99 $26.19 

White  Leghorns 1.581 $41.21 $24.53 

Rhode  Island  Reds 1,558 $42.00 $22.12 

Plymouth  Rocks    1,463 $38.76 $19.00 

Miscellaneous    1.258 ^32.33 $15.85 

Beginning  November  1,  1911,  and  concluding  October  31, 
1916.  five  laying  contests  were  conducted  on  the  grounds  of 
the  Missouri  State  Poultry  Experiment  Station  at  Mountain 
Grove.  Within  this  five-year  period,  how  did  the  performance 
of  the  Wyandottes  compare  with  that  of  other  breeds  ac- 
knowledged to  be  high  egg  producers?  The  question  is  an- 
swered by  Prof.  C.  T.  Patterson,  Director  of  the  Station,  in 
the  following  table : 

White  Wyandottes 163  eggs 

Silver  Wyandottes  162 

S.  C.  White  Leghorns 162     " 

S.  C.  Reds 157    " 

Black  Minorcas 155     " 


WYASDOTTE  STAXDARD   AXD  BREED  BOOK  399 

R.  C.  Reds   153  " 

Anconas 151  " 

Barred  Rocks 146  " 

White  Orpingtons    135  " 

The  above  figures  are  not  high,  but  it  must  be  remembered 
that  they  represent  the  average  of  all  specimens  of  the  different 
breeds  entered  in  the  five  contests.  Many  pages  more  of  sta- 
tistics could  be  quoted,  but  as  figures  are  usually  dry  reading, 
the  above  will  suffice. 

What  are  the  proper  lines  along  which  to  breed  in  order  to 
retain  this  superiority?  No  matter  how  beautiful  a  variety  may 
be,  there  is  one  infallible  test  by  which  it  must  justify  its  ex- 
istence and  that  is  the  test  of  usefulness.  Does  it  show  rea- 
sonable profit  over  the  cost  of  feed  and  care?  As  a  profitable 
breed,  the  Wyandotte  undoubtedly  leads  on  account  of  its 
splendid  laying  qualities,  and  the  question  naturally  arises,  is 
there  anything  about  the  shape  of  the  Wyandotte  that  is  favor- 
able to  heavy  egg  production?  There  undoubtedly  is.  If  you 
study  the  shape  of  the  Standard  Wyandotte,  again  you 
will  notice  that  it  must  have  breadth,  depth  and  moderate 
length.  These,  taken  together,  mean  capacity.  In  fact,  this  is 
the  outstanding  characteristic  of  a  good  Wyandotte  and  it  be- 
hooves W^yandotte  breeders,  who  have  the  welfare  of  the  breed 
at  heart,  to  insist  that  judges  consider  shape  of  paramount 
importance.  In  the  best  interests  of  the  breed,  let  us  demand 
that  shape  be  strictly  adhered  to.  Some  years  ago  there  was  a 
fad  for  an  excessively  short  bodied  bird  and  this  was  especially 
noticeable  in  the  White  Wyandotte.  This,  no  doubt,  was 
detrimental,  as  it  would  tend  to  lower  egg  production  and  also 
lower  fertility.  This,  however,  like  other  fads,  had  its  day  and 
the  present  Standard  for  the  Wyandotte  is  a  safe  and'  sane 
model  to  follow.     (J.  S.  M.) 


400  AMERICAN  POULTRY  AHHOCIATION 

CHAPTER  II. 
WYANDOTTES  IN  LAYING  CONTESTS. 


THE  Qgg  laying  contests  which  were  started  about  the 
year  1910  have  provided  records  which  make  a  splendid 
basis  for  estimating-  the  average  performance  of  any 
breed  or  variety. 

We  refrain  from  the  temptation  to  list  the  prizes  won  in 
these  contests  in  view  of  the  fact  that  space  prohibits  listing 
the  prizes  won  by  all  varieties,  which  should  be  done  where  a 
comparative  value  is  given,  therefore,  we  give  the  performance 
of  Wyandottes  without  comparison  to  other  breeds  and  va- 
rieties, and  consider  it  sufficient  to  say  that  they  have  won 
their  proportionate  share  of  prizes  offered  in  each  contest. 

Relative  to  the  requirements  of  the  American  Standard  of 
Perfection,  not  enough  records  were  submitted  where  the  com- 
peting birds  were  scored  to  justify  listing  the  results ;  enough 
were  given,  however,  to  indicate  that  a  high  scoring  bird  may 
be  either  a  high  or  low  producer  and  that  a  high  producer  may 
be  either  a  high  or  low  scoring  bird,  which  indicates  that 
high  scores  do  not  influence  production  nor  does  high  produc- 
tion indicate  low  scores. 

The  records  then  indicate  that  the  "Ideal"  of  high  scores 
and  high  production  may  be  combined  in  the  same  bird.  The 
records  from  twenty-seven  egg  laying  contests  have  been  com- 
piled which  give  a  good  idea  of  the  performance  of  the  Wyan- 
dottes. 

The  Wyandotte  breed  was  represented  by  six  varieties.  In 
order  of  numbers  of  birds  entered  they  were  the  White,  Silver, 
Bufif,  Columbian,  Golden  and  Partridge. 

These  contests  have  been  conducted  at  various  places 
throughout  America,  at  dififerent  latitudes  and  altitudes  and 
under  different  climatic  and  other  conditions.  They  were  under 
both  state  and  private  management  and  cover  a  period  of  sev- 
eral years.  The  birds  were  also  raised  in  various  parts  of 
the  country  and  under  different  conditions,  some  on  farm  range 
and  others  on  small  city  lots,  therefore  we  consider  the  av- 


WYANDOTTE   STAISDARD   AND   BREED   BOOK  401 

erages  obtained  to  be  a  good  indication  as  to  what  might  be 
expected  of  the  breed. 

Credit  is  due  the  managements  of  the  following  contests 
who  furnished  the  records  from  which  the  results  were  ob- 
tained :  Storrs  Contest,  Storrs,  Conn. ;  Vineland  Contest,  New 
Brunswick,  N.  J. ;  North  American  Contest,  Philadelphia,  Pa. ; 
Missouri  National  Contest,  Mt.  Grove,  Mo.;  The  All-N.  W. 
Contest,  Pullman,  Wash. ;  Kentucky  Contest,  Lexington.  Ky. ; 
American  Contest,  Leavenworth,  Kan. ;  Arkansas  Contest, 
Fayetteville,  Ark. 


^  ^  «% 


A  pen  of  White  W'yandottes  which  produced  1,226  eggs  in  one  year, 
an  average  of  over  245  eggs  each,  at  the  Sixtii  National  Laying  Contest, 
at  Mountain  Grove,  Mo. 

The  contest  year  as  a  rule  was  from  November  1st  of  one 
year  until  November  1st  of  the  following  year.  The  birds  be- 
gan the  year  as  pullets  but  ended  as  hens,  so  the  females  may 
be  referred  to  as  either  pullets  or  hens  in  the  contest.  The 
year  covered  the  first  laying  year. 

The  records  compiled  from  the  twenty-seven  contests  are 
as  follows : 

2180  Wyandottes  produced  332,325  eggs,  or  an  average  of 
152.4  eggs  each.  Of  the  2180  birds  competing  417  or  about  20 
per  cent  produced  200  eggs  or  more  in  one  year.    The  ten  high- 


402  AMERICAX  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

est  individuals  produced  294,  289,  286,  281,  274,  274,  267,  267, 
265,  265  eggs  each.  The  ten  highest  pens,  with  five  hens  each, 
produced  1305,  1226,  1180,  1143,  1132,  1130,  1120,  1094,  1089, 
1074  eggs  per  pen. 

The  following  data  was  not  given  in  each  report  but  the 
averages  were  made  from  the  ones  reported.  The  average 
weight  of  each  for  the  first  or  pullet  year  was  4}^  pounds.  The 
eggs  averaged  24.1  ounces  per  dozen.  Each  pullet  consumed 
72  pounds  of  feed  during  the  year.  The  average  broodiness 
was  3.75  times  each.  The  mortality  was  9  per  cent  during  the 
year. 

The  performance  of  Wyandottes  in  the  egg  laying  contests 
may  be  summed  up  and  stated  briefly  as  follows : 

The  average  Wyandotte  during  her  first  year's  production 
averaged  4^4  pounds  in  weight,  she  consumed  72  pounds  of 
feed  and  produced  152.4  eggs  which  weighed  24.1  ounces  per 
dozen,  which  is  approximatey  23  pounds,  or  more  than  five 
times  her  weight  in  eggs.  She  went  broody  3^  times  and  nine 
out  of  every  one  hundred  died  during  the  year;  one  out  of 
five  passed  the  200  egg  mark.  Plainly  the  Wyandotte  is  cap- 
able of  reaching  the  300  egg  class.     (C.  T.  P.) 


nopERTT  LmnAur 


WYAXDOTTE   STANDARD   AND   BREED   BOOK  403 

INDEX 

Page 
American  Standard  of  Perfection,   Introduction  to  tlie   1915   Revised 

Edition 3 

Authors,  List  of 9 

Backyard  Flock^  A 369 

Advantages     369 

Feeding    370 

Breeding  Domestic  Fow^ls  43 

Inbreeding    49 

Injudicious  Breeding 52 

Like  Begets  Like 55 

Line-Breeding 51 

Mendelism    54 

Offset  Defects  56 

Out  Crossing  50 

Principles  of  Breeding 55 

Resting  Males   S3 

Strain  Building  51 

Uniformity   57 

Care  of  Grov^ing  Stock 386 

Rearing  in  Restricted   Quarters 387 

Roosting  Coops  386 

Color  Terms,  Explanation  of 34 

Comparison  System,  Applying  the ...  28 

Comparison  of  Types,  Female Ill 

Comparison  of  Types,  Male  110 

Constitutional  Vigor   59 

Copyright    2 

Cutting  for  Defects 30 

Defects,  Common,  and  How  to  Overcome  Them 118 

Combs,   Defective,   Illustrated    118 

Heads,  Female,  Defective,  Illustrated 121 

Heads,  Male  Defective,  Illustrated 119 

Head   Points    118 

Legs  and  Toes,  Perfect  and  Defective,  Illustrated 131 

Plumage   Quality    124 

Shape,  Female,  Defective,  Illustrated 128.  129, 130.  133 

Shape,  Male,  Defective.  Illustrated 122,  123,  125,  127 

Wattles,   Defective,    Illustrated 118 

Disposition,  Individual    53 

Disqualifications  for  Wyandotte,  General 29 

Double   Matings 45 

English  Wyandotte  Winners,  Illustrated 135 

Exhibiting — 

"Catchy  Quality"    332 

Close  Examination 332 

Comparison  of  Candidates   334 


TBOPERTY  LlBRAKl 
N  r  o^x.  A.  If 


404  AMERICAX  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Page 

Comparison  Svstem   335 

Fillers     ' 332 

First  Step 332 

Prime  Requisites  Overlooked 334 

Process  of  Selection 331 

Care  After  the  Show 360 

Compel  Exercise 362 

Condiments  and  Laxatives 362 

Feed  Lightly    362 

Gradual  Changes    360 

Prevent  Diseases  of  Head 361 

Prevent   Intestinal   Disorders 361 

Removing  from  Shipping  Coops 361 

Care  in  the  Show  Room 354 

Bedding  355 

Changes  in  Temperature 356 

Clean  Cages  Important 355 

Deliver}-     355 

Drafts.  Protection  Against 355 

Drink  Dishes   355 

Feeds  and  Feeding 356 

Intensive   Caging 357 

Meat  and  Greens 356 

Overfeeding  and  Underfeeding 357 

Conditioning  for  Exhibition 336 

Art  of   Conditioning 338 

Condition   All-important    336 

Condition  Examined   337 

Feeding  for  Color 342 

Feeding  Method,  The 340 

Feeding  White  Birds 342 

Food  and   Exercise 340 

Forcing  Immature  Birds 341 

Fresh  Plumaged  Birds  Win 33'!^ 

Gloss.  J     ods  That  Develop - 342 

Groupi   g  the  Birds 343 

Mash   Makes  Flesh 341 

Pleasing   Bird   Wins 338 

Range  the  Best  Conditioner 339 

Regulating  Development    336 

Taming  the  Show  Bird 343 

Too  Close  Cooping 339 

Washing  White   Birds 345 

Winning  Quality  Hereditary 337 

Returning  From  the  Show 359 

Change    in    Temperature 359 

Condition  of  Coops 359 

Feeding  for  Return 360 

Home  Deliverv   360 

Shipping  to  the   Show 349 

Arrangements  for  Shipping 353 

Construction  of  Shipping  Coops 350 

Dimensions  of  Shipping  Coops 351 


WYAXDOTTE   STANDARD   AND   BREED   BOOK  405 

Page 

Feeding  During  the  Journey 352 

Shipping  White   Birds 351 

Travel  With  Your  Birds 353 

Wooden  Coops   350 

Feeding  the  Breeding  Flock 377 

Animal  Foods   378 

Green  Foods    379 

Mashes     378 

Too   Fattening   Rations 379 

Variety  of  Hard  Grains 378 

Feeding  for  Growth 388 

General   Purpose  Wyandottes 392 

Glossary  of  Technical   Terms 14 

Hatching  and  Brooding 382 

Artificial   Methods    385 

Care  of  Baby  Chicks 383 

Care  at  Hatching  Time 383 

Care  While  Sitting 383 

Feeding  Baby  Chicks 384 

Sitting   Hen's   Nest 382 

Head,  Ideal  for  Wyandottes,  All  Varieties 116,  117 

Health  of  Breeding  Stock  in  Confinement 380 

Feeding    380 

Healthy  Stock 380 

Management    381 

New    Blood    381 

The  House  380 

Hoxjsing  the  Flock   371 

House   for  Warm   Clim?tes 372 

Interior  Equipment    374 

Open  Front  Houses 371 

Simple  Construction  Best 372 

Ventilation    373 

Walls  and  Roofs 372 

Warm  Houses  371 

Inbreeding    49 

Judging  W'yandottes — 

Color   Defects    2S 

Comparison  System   28 

Cutting  for  Defects 30 

Dated   Score   Cards 27 

Defective  Score  Cards 27 

Disqualifying  Weights   28 

Faking   27 

Female  Back,  Tail  and  Wings 329 

Female   Breast.   Body  and  Th-ghs 330 

Female  Head,  Comb  and  Neck 329 

First    Impressions    Best 319 

General   Disqualifications    29,  320 

Handling  28 

Instructions  to  Judges   314 


406  AMERICAX  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Judging  by  the  Standard 318 

Male  Breast,  Body.  Thighs  and  Wings 3ZS 

Male   Head   Points,   Standard '. 3^6 

Male  Neck,  Back  and  Tail 327 

Merit 25.  314 

Old  and  Young,  Competing 27 

Private  Scoring   27 

Relative  Value  of  Condition 322 

Reweighing    26 

Scale  of  Points 308 

Scaly  Legs   28 

Score  of  Exhibition  Pens 27 

Shape  Is  Paramount 324 

Size    and    Condition 321 

Standard,  the  Judges  Guide 317 

Sweepstakes   26 

Tail   Carriage,  Illustrated 31 

Ties     27 

Typical  Shape  and  Color 28,  323 

Weight 25 

Like  Begets  Like 55 

Line  Breeding 51 

Market  Qualities  of  Wvaxdottes 39\ 

"Utility"  Explained   391 

Standard-bred  Fowls  Useful 392 

Mating — 

Black  Wyandottes   302 

Bufif  Wyandottjs    212 

Columbian   Wyandottes    277 

Golden  \\'yandottes 175 

Partridge  Wyandottes 236 

Silver  Wyandottes  143 

Silver  Penciled  Wyandottes 258 

White   Wyandottes    195 

Measurements,  Standard 33 

Mendelism    54 

Nomenclature,    Female 13 

Nomenclature,  Male   12 

Origin  and  Development  of  Domestic  Fowls 39 

American  Types   42 

Early  American  Importations 41 

English  Types  in  America 42 

First  Authentic  Account 41 

Incentives  to  Poultry  Keeping 40 

Introduction  Into  Europe 40 

Types,   Geographical    41 

Variation  of  Types 39 

Origin  and  Development  of  Wyandottes,  History  of 64 

American  Sebrights  65 

Black  Wyandottes  Admitted  to  Standard 94 

Buff  Wvandottes  Admitted  to  Standard 94 


WYAXDOTTE   STAXDARD   AND   BREED   BOOK  407 

Page 

Changes  in  Type  and  Color  Since  1888 81 

Chittagongs 77 

Columbian  Wyandottes  Admitted  to  Standard 102 

Early    Illustrations    86 

First  Exhibits  of  Wyandottes 81 

First  Standard  Illustrations 100 

First  Wyandotte  Standard 87 

Golden  Wyandottes  Admitted  to  Standard 90 

Lancashire  Mooneys    75 

Partridge  Wyandottes  Admitted  to  Standard 99 

Ray's  History  of  Origin ...  68 

Sebright   Cochins 67 

Silver  Penciled  Wyandottes  Admitted  to  Standard 100 

\\'hittaker's  Strain  71 

White  Wyandottes  Admitted  to  Standard 90 

Out  Crossing 50 

Pedigrees    56 

Preface    5 

Prepotency    57 

Sanitation     375 

Care  of  Grounds 376 

Cleanliness    375 

Disinfectants    376 

Scale  of  Points,  Official 37 

First  Scale  of  Points.  American 310 

First  Scale  of  Points,  American  Class 311 

Scale  of  Points,  1910 313 

Score  Card,  Official  32 

Sex  Control  of  Characters 58 

Shape,  Standard  Requirements  for  Wyandottes,      11  \'aricties .  .  .  .  112,  113 

Shape,  Standard  Requirements  for  Wyandottes.  Illustrated 114,  115 

Sitigle  Matings    44 

Starting  in  the  Poultry  Business 364 

Breed,  Selecting  the 364 

Breeding  Stock 366 

Hatching  Eggs,  Prices  of 365 

Quality,  Health.  Vigor 365 

Specialists   365 

When  to  Start 367 

Strain  Building 51 

Stud  Matings  52 

Technical  Terms,  Definitions  of 14 

Weight,  Standard  for  Wyandottes.  All  \'arieties 112 

Wyandottes,  Black — 

Breeding    302 

Origin    296 

Standard  Requirements  for  Color 302 


408  AM  E  NIC  AX  POULTRY  ASSOCIATION 

Pagk 

\\yaxdottes,  Bufif— 

Breeding   212 

Development  Illustrated    226,  217 

Ideal  Female.  Illustrated 211 

Ideal  Male,  Illustrated 210 

Origin     202 

Standard  Requirements  for  Color 209 

W'vAXDOTTES,  Columbian — 

Breeding    277 

Development.  Illustrated  294,  295 

Ideal    Female.    Illustrated 275 

Ideal  Male.  Illustrated 274 

Origin     269 

Standard    Requirements    for    Color 273 

Wyandottes  for  Eggs 397 

Wyandottes.  Golden — 

Breeding   175 

Development,   Illustrated    182,  183 

Origin    1 70 

Standard  Requirements  for  Color 173.  174 

Wyandottes  in  Laying  Contests 400 

Wyandottes   as    Market   Fowls 395 

Wyandottes,  Partridge — 

Development,    Illustrated    250,  251 

Ideal  Female.  Illustrated ■ 235 

Ideal  Male.  Illustrated   234 

Mating  236 

Origin     228 

Standard  Requirements  for  Color 232 

Wyandottes,  Silver — 

Breeding    143 

Color  Requirements  Explained 138 

Development.  Female.  Illustrated 169 

Development.   Male,   Illustrated 166.  167 

Origin 64 

Standard  Requirements  for  Color 136 

Wyandottes,  Silver  Penciled — 

Development.  Illustrated   267 

Ideal  Female.  Illustrated   ^-3 

Ideal  Male.  Illustrated    12 

Mating   258 

Origin     252 

Standard  Requirements  for  Color 256 

Wyandottes.  White — 

Development,    Illustrated    190.  191.  192.  193 

Ideal  Female.  Illustrated 197 

Ideal  Male.  Illustrated 196 

Mating     195 

Origin     184 

Standard  Requirements  for  Color 195 


